The Nice Guys Review: 4 Ups And 1 Down

1. The Double Act Goes Completely Against Type

At the centre of the film are Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling's pair of hapless P.I.s. Based on the trailers, you'd be forgiven for thinking they're playing a typical double act, with Crowe's Healy the grizzled muscle and Gosling's March the bumbling amateur.

Because it's Black all of the elements are there, but they're shared between the two characters; it's March who has an alcohol problem, while Healy is the one who aspires to be a legitimate investigator. Neither is the straight guy and both border on being full-on comic relief. It's an extension of the balancing of type discussed, both of the actor's conventional personas (many people have exclaimed how Gosling has never been funny) and of the genre conventions, but is something that so revolutionises the film.

All of this is in the script, but it's sold by the actors. Both have excellent comedic timing (absolutely essential), yet contrast this with some genuine character moments; they're ridiculous, but they are human. Before the UK press screening, Crowe came on stage and cracked wise about Gosling's rehearsed cool and propensity for hair products, so they clearly have the same chemistry off screen.