2 Guns (FILM REVIEW)
2 Guns
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Washington and Wahlberg Co-Star in Cat and Mouse Crime Caper
DEA Agent Robert
Trench (Denzel Washington) and Naval Intelligence Officer Michael Stigman (Mark
Wahlberg) have both infiltrated a drug syndicate run by Papi Greco (Edward
James Olmos), a creep who carries the head of a decapitated adversary around in
a bowling bag. Therefore, the imbedded lawmen are careful to make sure their
cover isn’t blown while bringing down the ruthless kingpin.
However,
neither of the narcs is at all aware of other’s true identity, which means they
aren’t prepared to serve as backup in a sticky situation. Worse, when an
operation does go bad, they are initially suspicious of each other.
But once
they clear up the mutual case of mistaken identity, they conspire not only to crack
the cartel but to relieve it of $43 million in ill-gotten gains sitting in a
bank vault. This development doesn’t sit well with Earl (Bill Paxton), Papi’s
accomplice holding the key to the emptied safe deposit box.
Directed by
Iceland’s
Baltasar Kormakur (Contraband), 2 Guns
is basically an adrenaline-fueled buddy flick featuring a high body-count
designed to satiate the bloodlust of the lovers of gratuitous gore. Here a
body, there a body, everywhere a body-body.
The
picture has its share of titillation, too, most of it coming courtesy of an
inscrutable moll played by pretty Paula Patton, real-wife of crooner Robin
Thicke. The problem is that the preposterous plot never pretends to be
plausible, a failing perhaps forgiven by diehard Denzel
Washington fans eager to see him trading quips with Mark Wahlberg or cavorting carnally opposite a topless Ms. Patton.
As
for standouts in the supporting cast, Edward James Olmos and Bill Paxton do great jobs of portraying a couple of
readily-detestable villains. But their never-developed characters are so simplistically
drawn that the audience’s job is just to sit back and wait for these bad guys’ inevitable
demise.
A
remarkably unengaging adventure, given its incessant attempt at overstimulation.
Fair (1 star)
Rated R for profanity, brief nudity and pervasive violence
Running Time: 109 minutes
Distributor: Universal
Pictures
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