Movie Review: 2 Guns

Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg in 2 Guns

Buddy cops get a funny makeover in this comedy spy/undercover caper starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg.

2 Guns is the tale of two undercover agents, one working for the DEA and one for the Navy, who carry off a major bank heist from drug lord Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos), only to find that the money they’ve stolen is from another government agency. The theft leads to a confusing battle, with everyone a suspect and everyone after the money.

The twists and turns of the film’s plot are a little absurd, but what 2 guns lacks in sense it packs in punch. Action abounds, with money and blood flying every which way. Logic is thrown mostly out of the window in favour of the humour-filled relationship between the two stars, whose playful animosity is part of the charm.

Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur is possibly remembered for his other Mark Wahlberg vehicle, Contraband, which was mediocre to say the least. This film has a bit more pizzazz, and the chemistry between Wahlberg and Washington is disarmingly fun. Some of the dialogue achieves wittiness, whilst some of the jokes fall awkwardly flat.

The casting is good, with the leads playing to their comedy strengths. It is good to see Washington in a more light-hearted role, given his tendency to star in darker, more serious films. Edward James Olmos’ drug lord makes the best of his shady moustachioed look, whilst Bill Paxton plays up the sleaze as the aggressive mystery government man. James Marsden suits the role of the naval officer with something to hide, and Paula Patton is a little bit more than the token love interest.

The cinematography can be a bit disruptive at times, but the film has a fairly rapid pace. More unsettling is the use of violence, which seems unnecessarily excessive for the comedy focus of the film

2 Guns is not the smartest of films, but it is passably entertaining. The dynamic duo of Washington and Wahlberg are fun to watch, and though it uses the old buddy cop formula it is a fairly new take on the genre.