The Other Guys (2010)
★★½ — The Other Guys (2010)
The Other Guys was the fourth collaboration between director Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, following the trio of Anchorman (2004), Talladega Nights (2006), and Step Brothers (2008), all produced through their own Gary Sanchez Productions banner. Columbia Pictures backed the film with a reported $100 million budget, a significant commitment for what was, at its core, a comedy built around a parody of the buddy-cop genre popularised by films like Lethal Weapon and Bad Boys. McKay and Ferrell wrote the screenplay together, and the film arrived at a moment when studio comedies of that scale were becoming increasingly rare. Mark Wahlberg, primarily known at that point for dramatic and action work (The Departed, Shooter), took the straight-man role somewhat against type, a casting choice that became a minor talking point during the film's promotion.
The Other Guys (2010) is a perfectly serviceable buddy cop comedy. Loud, silly, and packed with the kind of absurd humour Will Ferrell excels at but it never rises above being just average. He plays a neurotic, desk-bound guy with zero street cred, paired with Mark Wahlberg an explosive ex-partner of legendary cops now stuck in obscurity. Their mismatched dynamic has potential, and there are genuine laughs... The satire on Wall Street corruption is surprisingly present for a Ferrell vehicle, and director Adam McKay keeps the energy high with fast cuts, mockumentary-style cutaways, and cameos. The action is over-the-top in that self-aware, wink-at-the-audience way McKay does well. But for all its noise and gags, the film lacks real bite or originality. The plot meanders, the third act fizzles into generic shootouts, and too many jokes rely on repetition rather than wit. It’s not bad (it’s actually kind of fun while it lasts) but it doesn’t stand out in a crowded genre. You’ve seen this movie before, just with different one-liners. Watchable, occasionally funny, but forgettable. A solid rental, not a classic. If you’re in the mood for Ferrell yelling about spreadsheets while wearing a bulletproof vest? Sure, why not.
Rating: ★★½ | Year: 2010 | Watched: 2025-10-14
Where to watch (UK)
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Sky Store
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Sky Store
Physical: Amazon UK
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Related on Movies With Macca
More from Adam McKay: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
More with Will Ferrell: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) · Old School (2003) · Despicable Me 4 (2024)
More from the 2010s: Wonder (2017) · Beautiful Boy (2018) · The Witch (2015) · What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
More comedy: The Eagle (1925) · The General (1926) · Americana (2023) · The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
More action: A Better Tomorrow (1986) · The General (1926) · Hand of Death (1976) · Daredevil (2003)
