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Over 10 years ago, veteran actorsDenzel WashingtonandMark Wahlbergjoined forces for a buddy-cop comedy of explosive proportions. Part action, part comedy, Washington and Wahlberg paired together in amoney-heist action filmthat, despite its flaws, is wholly entertaining. With two dynamic lead stars, an unlikely partnership, and a premise that takes the best of Lethal Weapon and pairs it with the intimate espionage ofMr. and Mrs. Smith,2 Gunsis an entertaining romp.
2 Gunsstars Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg as a pair of criminals working together to rob a bank. Unknown to each other, both of the would-be criminals are undercover law enforcement working on separate operations to take down the leader of a drug cartel. Bobby (Washington) is a smooth-talking DEA agent who wants to convict the cartel leader for tax evasion. On the other hand, Stig (Wahlberg) is a Navy SEAL under orders to steal the drug money to fund naval operations. When their heist goes better than planned, and the two are left with a $40 million windfall of illegal money, they find themselves the enemy of not only the cartel but of their respective agencies, who would find it more convenient if their two rouge agents were gone.
2 Guns Features a Fantastic Dynamic Duo
2 Gunsis abuddy cop filmin which the buddies don’t know that they are friends or that the other is a cop. Washington’s Bobby is a cool-headed operator, a quick and steady thinker who manages to seem in control no matter the circumstances. Wahlberg’s Stig, meanwhile, is a rambunctious quick shooter, a sharp-eyed, fast-to-examine, fast-to-act rabble-rouser who plays these qualities up even more undercover. Their partnership is entertaining, and their shared scenes crackle with energy. This onscreen camaraderie, however, has the unfortunate result of making their scenes apart seem fairly lacking. The absence of the main draw allows for the less favorable aspects of the plot (unnecessary storylines with underdeveloped characters) to peek through.
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Washington and Wahlberg are both no stranger to cop films. Both actors seem to have an affinity for law enforcement roles, as they have portrayed police/agents in several other films. For Washington’s part, he has taken up the badge in a number of previous films, includingInside Man,The Bone Collector,The Siege,andMan on Fire.His steady presence and compelling persona lend well to the genre. Most notably, Washington received an Academy Award for his role asa corrupt copin 2001’sTraining Day. Wahlberg has proven similarly well-versed with his roles inPatriots Day,Mile 22, Max Payne, andWe Own the Night.
Wahlberg and Washington Are a Perfectly Dynamic Pair
Both men have proven themselves to be solid action and dramatic stars, but2 Gunsgives them another chance to showcase themselves in the comedic field, which they do admirably. Since2 Guns, Wahlberg has gone on to showcase his comedic chops in several further films, includingDaddy’s Home,The Family Plan, andThe Other Guys, just to name a few. Although he has done comedic roles in the past, Washington is more commonly known for hisaction and dramatic performances.2 Gunsis a decidedly comedic film, and Washington’s straight-man take works well contrasted with Wahlberg’s more trigger-happy, wildcard-playing partnership.
2 Gunswas a moderate commercial success at the box office. The film earned $132 million worldwide against its reported $61 million budget. The film was rated generally positive and received a fresh score of 66% from audiences and 64% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. On Metacritic, the movie did not fare as well with critics, who had a more mixed (55%) reaction. Critics of the film called it entertaining while acknowledging that it doesn’t tread any new ground in the genre. Fans of the film loved the chemistry between the two main leads, even though many found the plot lines messy and chaotic at times. Overall, the general audience impression of the film was favorable and noted as a good time.
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2 Gunsalso stars Paula Patton (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol), James Marsden (Sonic, 27 Dresses), and Bill Paxton (Twister, True Lies) in roles of varying degrees of usefulness. Paxton plays a sinister investigator tracking down the cartel’s missing funds. Patton’s role as Bobby’s coworker and secret lover is underutilized. Marsden as Stig’s morally questionable commander is promising but is ultimately never fully fleshed out. Other actors include Fred Ward and Edward James Olmos. Released by Universal Pictures,2 Gunswasbased on the comic book seriesby Steven Grant and was directed by Baltasar Kormakur (Beast, Contraband).2 Gunsis now available to stream onNetflix.
