It’s rare that I don’t know about a major studio film these days but every so often I find myself staring at a poster for a movie I hadn’t even heard about online or maybe just didn’t think to care. That was the case with Baltasar Kormakur’s (Contraband) new film 2 Guns which I discovered via a poster down on the subway platform on my way to work. I decided not to look anything up about the film a headed into 2 Guns blind and with the assumption that it would be a mediocre buddy cop movie but when I left I was overly satisfied with the results thanks to the unconventional story setup and excellent performances by the cast.
In the film, Denzel Washington plays Robert “Bobby” Trench, a DEA agent working undercover to take down a Mexican drug cartel boss. He partners with a guy named Marcus “Stig” Stigman (Mark Wahlberg) who he thinks is a loud mouthed criminal who just wants to score millions from the cartel but is actually a U.S. naval intelligence officer. The answer to your question is yes, these are two government employed men from different bureaus working together pretending to be criminals and are setting each other up while having absolutely no idea that they’re actually on the same side.
When their attempt to rob a bank containing the cartel’s money goes wrong, the two operatives are cast out of their organizations leaving them on the run, either to avoid jail or death. In order to survive and get out of this jam, the two must work together to figure out what went wrong, why people are after them and how to clean it all up.
Though there is a shroud of mystery in the first 30-40minutes or so as you try to figure out what’s really going on, the film eventually takes its natural predictable course as any film of this nature would take but it does take us down a road less travelled, changing the pace and points at which conflict normally arises. This gives us a chance to take a moment and thank the screenwriter for altering the cookie cutter mold just enough to make a difference in the mainstream audiences’ eyes even though we know the end results will be the same. Thankfully the lack of real surprises is made up for by the film’s charismatic and fun leads doing what they do best, kicking ass and taking names.
Thanks to they dynamite chemistry, Denzel and Mark are what make this movie really work, even if Mr. Wahlberg does steal practically every scene they are in together (the guy has found “his” type of role). The movie is very quotable and you’ll walk away saying things like “I did wink at him because now he’s my bitch” to your friends. You’ll also go to diner’s wanting to wink like a cocky champion to all the hot waitresses because that’s what champions do and it if it worked for Marky Mark it’ll work for you.
Furthermore, Bill Paxton was surprisingly fantastic, taking a solid step outside of the regular guy realm that I feel I’m always finding him in. In 2 Guns he is the most badass character of them all; he is a no nonsense “licensed to kill” CIA agent with a southern accent who just wants to find the money and end all of this running around but he’ll do it by whatever means necessary. All I can say is what a guy.
2 Guns was definitely an improvement for Baltasar Kormakur. His last film Contraband, a movie which he also collaborated with Wahlberg on, didn’t really cut it for me but he stepped up his game on this graphic novel adaptation and delivered the ideal summer buddy action comedy that’ll have audiences smiling and laughing as they take their bags of popcorn to their faces.
Rating: Denzel and Wahlberg bring all the energy they’ve got to this hilarious and surprisingly fun summer action flick (6.7/10)
PS there is a wonderful surprise with Paula Patton early on the film so keep your eyes locked onto the screen. It’s makes buying your ticket completely worth it
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