The Other Guys
The Other Guys are what they call third string paper pushers in the NYPD, diametrically opposed to the precinct heroes. In the New York precinct where P.K. Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) and Christopher Danson (Dwayne Johnson) are kingpins, Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) are very much the other guys and they get zero respect. In the case of Hoitz who was an up and comer its because he put a beloved Yankee on the injury list for a season but for Gamble the lack of respect is for his anal personality – but he can respect that lack of respect. As a matter of fact the only person he shows no respect for is his drop dead gorgeous physician wife Sheila (Eva Mendes), just one of a litany of hot females unexplainably attracted to this geek and one of a litany of hilarious quirks that make this summer action comedy a hoot. When Highsmith and Danson perish as the result of believing their own publicity, top dog status is up for grabs. The volatile Hoitz wants to go vigilante to make his bones but it turns out that their best bet is due to some of Gambles forensic auditing that points to big white collar fraud perpetrated by a David Ershon (Steve Coogan) in cahoots with a multinational powerbroker played by an uncredited Anne Heche. But why is their Captain Gene Mauch (Michael Keaton) so ready to roadblock their investigation when he gets heavy duty political pressure? As producer the heat is doubly on Ferrell who also needs a rebound from the disastrous Land of the Lost and here he dials his over the top instincts back with pleasing results. As for Wahlberg he needn’t wonder if he can do comedy and can add another one to his growing list of impressive works.