2 Guns

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
2 Guns
Released 8/2/13, now in theaters

Based on a graphic novel, the action comedy, 2 Guns, features the talents of Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg playing rival law enforcement officials who are caught in a deadly conspiracy.  Now aren't comedy and deadly conspiracy a bit of a contradiction.  Maybe.  But, it all kind of fits together in 2 Guns.

Robert Trench, a.k.a., "Bobby Beans (Washington)" and Michael Stigman, a.k.a., "Stig (Wahlberg)", are partners and general "lowlifes" as the film begins.  They have infiltrated the crime syndicate of Mexican drug lord, Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos) attempting to set him up with a cocaine purchase.  When Greco doesn't take the bait, the partners devise a new plan, each unaware the other is working undercover for a different agency.

 Bobby returns to his colleagues in the DEA with a plan to rob Greco of $3 million stored in a small town bank that he has staked out with Stig in the hope of convicting the drug lord on money laundering charges.  He convinces his superior, Jessup, and associate (and sometime lover), Debra (Paula Patton), to keep him undercover for the heist.  DEA will be waiting for the two agents to emerge from the bank with the money and, then, arrest Stig before taking custody of the illegal funds. Meanwhile, Stig, a Naval Intelligence officer, has been given the go ahead from his commanding officer, Quince (James Marsden), to commit the robbery with Bobby and to kill him when the task is completed.  Stig believes the money will be used to fund future covert ops for the Navy.

Bobby and Stig pull off the bank robbery, however, there is a lot more than the $3 million in the safety deposit vault than they believed.  The agents have taken over $43 million in cash.  Bobby is uneasy when the DEA doesn't show up as planned, but decides not to break cover.  When the "thieves" stop to regroup in the desert, Bobby attempts to arrest his partner.  Stig follows orders and betrays Bobby by shooting him (not fatally) and taking the money to Quince.  Stig, in turn, is betrayed by Quince and barely escapes with his life.  Now, with both agents not knowing who they can trust, they form an uneasy alliance and have to fight enemies on several different fronts for the possession of the money, including, Earl (Bill Paxton), a mysterious man who has a surprising connection to one of the players in this dangerous game.

Like the movie, The Heat, the treat of 2 Guns is the interaction between its two stars.  Washington and Wahlberg have an easiness in their dialog and interaction that makes you believe they have been working with each other for years.  The plot is formulaic to be sure.  But you don't care as the stars play off each other.   None of interaction is forced.  All of it is a pleasure to watch onscreen.

The pacing of the film hits the right notes as well.  It tells its story and doesn't overstay its welcome. There is just enough action and just enough laughs to keep you on your toes.  And there's the added bonus of  not having plot holes that you can drive a tractor trailer through.

2 Guns is not a cinematic tour-de-force so it is likely to receive little recognition for its two stars at award time.  And, that's a shame.  When I went into this movie, I didn't think Washington and Wahlberg would work together as great as they did.  They're totally different types of actors.  The pairing was odd, but it turned out to be gold.  Well, they may get some recognition with the MTV Movie Awards.  They will definitely receive recognition from me at year end.  These two are that good here.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

 ***3/4 stars

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.