The Nice Guys

A deranged and depraved tale of a bumbling private investigator and a gonzo enforcer making mayhem in Los Angeles, The Nice Guys begins in 1978 with a horrific car crash in which porn star Misty Mountains is killed. Or is she? Her distraught aunt doubts it—and she wants answers. And what about a mysterious missing girl named Amelia? Is there any connection? That is the question plaguing private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and hardboiled tough-guy Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe). Their unconventional investigation leads them to a splashy Tinseltown pool party—replete with mermaids and Earth, Wind & Fire dance music—where they not only find Amelia (Margaret Qualley), an ardent environmentalist, but also discover a high-level corporate conspiracy, which leads them to Judith Kuttner (Kim Basinger), who heads the California Department of Justice, along with her assistant Tally (Yaya DaCosta). Also in the mix here is John Boy (Matt Bomer), an enigmatic hit-man/fixer. As pragmatic, principled Healy and sleazy, boozing March, Crowe and Gosling deftly play off each other, particularly when they're interacting with March's precocious teenage daughter, Holly (Angourie Rice), who is not only determined to keep her disheveled dad on-track but also wants to participate in the rollicking crime caper. Once writer-director Shane Black gets the fast-paced, action-packed comedy in gear, there's no holding back on wacky situations, unpredictable chaos, and wickedly clever confusion. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include an “Always Bet on Black” featurette on director Shane Black (6 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a “Worst. Detectives. Ever.” making-of featurette (6 min.), and bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a small extras package for a winning action-comedy flick.] (S. Granger)