When two hot-shot NYC cops are killed in action, it is up to desk-bound colleagues Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz (Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg) to pick up the baton. Adam McKay’s buddy-cop spoof is a definite improvement on his Step Brothers (2008); it may be loud and dumb, but at least it’s got plenty of silly laughs and the two leads are a perfect (mis)match. Very much in the style of Anchorman (2004), the movie makes fun of a genre but also men in general; there isn’t a grownup in sight. Nice to see Michael Keaton in a funny supporting role, but the movie would have benefited from tighter editing.
2010-U.S. 107 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Adam McKay. Cast: Will Ferrell (Allen Gamble), Mark Wahlberg (Terry Hoitz), Eva Mendes (Sheila Ramos Gamble), Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson… Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson. Narrated by Ice-T. Cameos: Rosie Perez, Brooke Shields, Derek Jeter, Tracy Morgan, Anne Heche.
Trivia: Alternative version runs 116 min.
