Not Nice But Funny.

Rating: 6/10 (24 May 2016)

The Nice Guys (2016): Dir: Shane Black / Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley: Director Shane Black revisits the same formula that worked in his Kiss, Kiss Bang, Bang. Russell Crowe plays enforcer Jackson Healy and Ryan Gosling plays private investigator Holland March and they are reluctantly involved in a plot regarding a missing persons, a porn star car crash, and thugs with blue face paint. Despite all the twists and turns to an otherwise ambitious plot, the climax is somewhat predictable in terms of who the villain really is. What works is the back and forth banter between the leads. As with Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmer in the previously mentioned film, Crowe is the tough enforcer who must rely on someone whom he previously broke the arm of at the urge of someone else. Gosling provides many laughs as the whimpering investigator. Angourie Rice makes the best impression as March's daughter Holly. She is bright beyond her years and makes like Nancy Drew concealing herself into her father's investigation. Margaret Qualley is also compelling as the female on the run with a gun and ducking both sides. On the negative note the villains are cardboard and about as enticing as bathroom tile. Even Kim Basinger is wasted in a predictable role. This is pointless and pathetically violent but it is not without its finer points, which is the humour that is on tact. The result is an entertaining action comedy that is visually well made with clever action scenes but a worldview that is not that nice. Score: 6 ½ / 10