'The Nice Guys' review: Ryan Gosling & Russell Crowe's chemistry makes this mad buddy flick work

Film: The Nice Guys
Director: Shane Black
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Kim Basinger, Matt Bomer, Angourie Rice, Margaret Qualley

What it's about

Misty Mountains is a great porn star name. Only in the 70s would you find such gems... but let's not dwell on that too long. She's killed in the opening minutes, setting off a trail of events that have the universes (if you will!) of two very different men (and then, maybe not so different) colliding. Holland (Gosling) is looking for a lead on the dead porn star possibly being alive. A missing girl named Amelia (Qualley) is thrown into the mix, bringing in a rather burly enforcer named Healy (Crowe) into the picture. By and by, they team up to find out why there are others looking for Amelia. There are repercussions to such searches, though. And it's something the two find out as they get along, chased by thugs and one deadly villain named John Boy (Bomer). What's the story behind her disappearance and why does she not want to be found? And how is Holland's daughter Holly (Rice) involved in all this? Here's a mad buddy flick about sex, the 70s, cars, intrigue and bloody murder. Not entirely in that order.

What's hot

Black's the sort of guy you go to direct this sort of film. A film that's all kinds of films really. But mostly because it's familiar territory for him, so you're going in, expecting him to do one better than before (think Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Lethal Weapon and you already know where this is headed). And also because the 70s was always a bit inaccessible to those of our generation, always spewing some new secret and convoluted conspiracy theory, hence the intrigue. And private eyes were all the rage, then. So yeah, there's also Crowe and Gosling, two perfectly paired gents with some unmistakable screen chemistry. There's really no denying that. They also have some great lines, so there's that, too. And there's Rice and Qualley playing damsels in supposed distress remarkably well, too.

What's not

A lightning rod, if you please. There's way too much happening. And how many inside jokes can you pack in, before some of us are left scratching our heads? Let's face it, not everyone is going to get your references, Mr Black (but in your defence, most people going to watch your film won't go there for the references and gags). And while there's an underlying unpredictability of intent, it's not clear why. And then, there's that over-reliance on the lead pair. It means you're not sure about your own product. At least, that's how it feels.

What to do

The Gosling-Crowe pairing, obviously. The promise of some great jokes. A lot of murders. And a time long gone. Go, if you're into all that.

Rating: ***