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Category: Reviews
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Published: Sunday, 04 August 2013 21:18
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Written by Lupe Haas
Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg’s on screen pairing in 2 GUNS proved money at the box office. Here’s what worked and didn’t work for the buddy action comedy.
In 2 GUNS, both Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg are set up by their own people at the DEA and Navel Intelligence on a bank heist gone wrong. The on screen pair must fend off those agencies as well as a crooked CIA honcho (Bill Paxton) and a ruthless Mexican drug dealer (Edward James Olmos) while searching for the stolen money.
PROS
Bromance
Forget the boy gets girl. These two have great on screen chemistry. Wahlberg’s Stig is like an annoying little brother-type, excited to join forces with DEA agent Bobby Trench (Washington) and fight off the bad guys. Both have great banter that couldn’t have been all on the page. It seems like these two probably hit it off on set as well.
Badass Edward James Olmos
We haven't seen Olmos play a juicy role in awhile since Battlestar Galactica. He's like the Godfather of the Mexican cartel as Papi Greco in 2 GUNS. He’s classy yet ruthless.
Denzel Washington's Bling
Washington's character dons two gold teeth which gives the guy even more street cred. We’ll never tire of seeing Washington on screen.
CONS
Femme Fatale
Paula Patton’s sexy DEA agent is way too seductive immediately alerting viewers something is up with this sexpot.
Predictable Plot
The bromance between Washington and Wahlberg saves the predictable plot from boring you. From the start, you know the various groups involved, including the crooked agents of the DEA, CIA, Naval Intelligence and Mexican cartel are bound to end up in a climatic shootout.
Mexican Savages
No doubt Mexican drug dealers exist and they are the bad guys, but it seems Hollywood is fascinated a little too much of late. The Mexican cartels are the new mafia, but at least the Italian mafia in movies get the two-sided treatment. In 2 GUNS, the cartel members are gangster-looking savages. The other Anglo characters are just as savage in their actions, but you see the alternative. At least a lot of Latino actors got a paycheck.
Expectations going into FIFTY SHADES OF GREY were quite low for a movie adaptation based on an erotica book by E.L. James. The negative online buzz also added to the dread of watching the film, so it was a pleasant surprise when I got sucked into the story.
