The Other Guys

This article is about the film. For other uses, seeThe Other Guys (disambiguation).

The Other Guysis a 2010 Americanbuddy copaction comedyfilm directed byAdam McKay,who co-wrote it withChris Henchy.It starsWill FerrellandMark WahlbergwithEva Mendes,Michael Keaton,Steve Coogan,Ray Stevenson,Samuel L. JacksonandDwayne Johnsonin supporting roles.

The Other Guys
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Adam McKay
Written by	Adam McKay Chris Henchy
Produced by	Will Ferrell Adam McKay Jimmy Miller Patrick Crowley
Starring	Will Ferrell Mark Wahlberg Eva Mendes Michael Keaton Steve Coogan Ray Stevenson Samuel L. Jackson Dwayne Johnson
Cinematography	Oliver Wood
Edited by	Brent White
Music by	Jon Brion
Production company	Columbia Pictures
Distributed by	Sony Pictures Releasing
Release dates	August 2, 2010(2010-08-02)(New York City) August 6, 2010(2010-08-06)(United States)
Running time	107 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$85–100 million
Box office	$170.9 million

This film is the fourth of five collaborations between Ferrell and McKay, followingAnchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy(2004),Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby(2006), andStep Brothers(2008), and followed byAnchorman 2: The Legend Continues(2013).The Other Guysis the only one not to be co-written by Ferrell. It is also the first of three collaborations between Ferrell and Wahlberg, who later reunited inDaddy's Home(2015) andDaddy's Home 2(2017).

The film was released in the United States on August 6, 2010. It was well received by criticsand grossed $170 million worldwide.

Plot

Allen Gamble and Terry Hoitz are both officers of theNew York City Police Department(NYPD). Allen is a mild-manneredforensic accountantwhile Terry is a hot-tempered detective who was partnered with Allen after mistakenly shootingDerek Jeterduring theWorld Series(and earning him the nickname "Yankee Clipper"). They receive no respect from the other officers, particularly detectives Martin and Fosse. The precinct, except for Terry, idolizes detectives Chris Danson and P. K. Highsmith, who are consideredNew York City's best policemen despite the major collateral damage they cause catching petty criminals. During a pursuit, they leap to their deaths, believing they would land safely after surviving many near-death experiences.

Allen and Terry investigate a scaffolding permit violation by British multi-billionaire Sir David Ershon but wind up uncovering a much bigger plot by Ershon to cover the losses incurred by his client, Lendl Global. Lendl CEO Pamela Boardman has hired a team of mercenaries led by Roger Wesley to make sure Ershon pays her back.

Terry and Allen go to Allen's house to talk through the case and have dinner with Allen's wife Sheila. When they visit Allen's ex-girlfriend, Christinith, to gain their police evidence, she and her husband want him to have sex with her. Meanwhile, Terry unsuccessfully attempts to reconnect with his ex-fiancée Francine, who had walked out on him due to his anger issues.

During their investigation, Allen and Terry are wounded due to an unsuccessful attempt at scaring them off via the bombing of an accounting office when they come in to investigate it. Allen confides in Terry about how he ran aprostitutionring in college, though he insists that he was never a pimp. He stopped because he was deep into his dark alternative personality, "Gator", and wound up in the hospital, where he met Sheila. When Sheila tells Allen she is pregnant, he reverts to his Gator personality, causing her to kick him out.

Their investigation comes to a halt when Ershon's attorney, Don Beaman, learns of Ershon's plan to cover his losses, leading Wesley to kill him and make it look like suicide. Angered at their lack of progress, Captain Gene Mauch splits up the partners, sending Terry totraffic dutyand Allen to beat patrol.

Despite Terry's anger, Allen still works the case on his own. After he learns that Danson and Highsmith died investigating a staged theft during which Wesley broke into an accounting firm next door, he finds credible evidence and earns his gun back from Mauch. Allen then convinces Terry to rejoin him. They meet Mauch atBed Bath & Beyond,his second job, where he admits he has been holding off on the case because Ershon has high-profile connections that could ruin him, so he allows them to finish the case off-the-books.

They go to an investment meeting Ershon is having and realize that the $32 billion Ershon seeks is really coming from the NYPD pension fund. They escape with Ershon to his private apartment, and he tells them that the money from the pension fund is already in his account, ready to be transferred. Later that night, Allen and Terry finally reconcile with their loved ones. Allen apologizes to Sheila using her mother as an intermediary and she welcomes him back in. Terry also apologizes to Francine for letting his anger rule his life.

The next morning, they drive to the bank to stop the transfer, evading Wesley's team, groups ofChechenandNigerian"investors" to whom Ershon owes money, and police officers who are told Allen and Terry have gone rogue. Reaching the bank, they halt the transfer. Wesley arrives and, as a delaying tactic, shoots both officers and Ershon in their arms. Mauch finally arrives with backup, rescuing them and arresting Ershon for embezzlement, and Wesley for multiple counts of murder. Ershon's arrest led to a stock market crash and the subsequent federal bailout of Lendl Global. Terry marries Francine, and Allen reunites with his wife.

Cast

• Will Ferrellas Detective Allen "Gator" Gamble, a mild mannered detective and Hoitz's partner
• Mark Wahlbergas Detective Terry Hoitz, Gamble's partner who is hated by the precinct due to shootingDerek Jeter,having done so under the belief he was an assailant
• Eva Mendesas Dr. Sheila Ramos Gamble, Gamble's wife and a nurse
• Michael Keatonas Captain Gene Mauch, the precinct's chief of police who also works atBed, Bath, and Beyond
• Steve Cooganas Sir David Ershon, a British billionaire
• Ray Stevensonas Roger Wesley, Boardman's head of security and a mercenary, sent by her to monitor Ershon's activities
• Samuel L. Jacksonas Detective P.K. Highsmith, a cocky, well-liked detective who causes property damage while pursuing cases
• Dwayne Johnsonas Detective Christopher Danson, Highsmith's partner
• Lindsay Sloaneas Francine, Hoitz's ex-fiance
• Natalie Zeaas Christinith, Gamble's ex girlfriend
• Rob Riggleas Detective Evan Martin, a detective who constantly picks on Hoitz and Gamble
• Damon Wayans Jr.as Detective Fosse, Martin's partner who also picks on Hoitz and Gamble
• Viola Harrisas Mama Ramos, Shelia's mother
• Rob Huebelas Officer Watts, a officer in the NYPD
• Brett Gelmanas Hal, Christinith's husband
• Bobby Cannavaleas Jimmy, a detective who picks on Hoitz and Gamble
• Andy Buckleyas Don Beaman, Ershon's attorney
• Ben Schwartzas Beaman's Assistant
• Adam McKayas Dirty Mike, a homeless man who trashed Gamble's car after it was stolen
• Zach Woodsas Douglas, an employee in Ershon's company
• Chris Gethardas Clerk
• Zoe Lister-Jonesas Therapist
• Michael Delaney as Bob Littleford
• Tess Kartel as Brazilian woman

Cameos

• Anne Hecheas Pamela Boardman (uncredited), the CEO of Lendl Global
• Ice-Tas Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
• Horatio Sanzas gallery owner
• Thomas Middleditchas gallery attendee
• Derek Jeteras himself
• Brooke Shieldsas herself
• Rosie Perezas herself
• Tracy Morganas himself
• Monty Soppas Kip James (uncredited)
• Brian Jamesas BG James (uncredited)
• Josef Sommeras District Attorney Radford (uncredited)

Production

Adam McKay described the genesis as an "accident, in a way",stemming from a dinner he and Will Ferrell had with Mark Wahlberg. After noticing the actors' chemistry,McKay wrote producer Kevin Messick an email hypothesizing a possible film starring the two, giving a cop film as an example of what he thought would work. Messick suggested developing that idea into a film.

Principal photographyfor the film began on September 23, 2009, in New York City.Additional scenes were filmed inAlbanyandStaten Island,New York.

Practical visual effects work, including the helicopter crash scene, was done byKernerFX.

Stunt coordinator Brad Martin said in aWall Street Journalinterview that for Gamble's car they used threePriuses,including one with a racing engine so large it had to go in the back seat.

Release

Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell promotingThe Other GuysatSan Diego Comic-Con,July 2010

In July 2010, Wahlberg and Ferrell appeared atSan Diego Comic-Conto promote the film.

During an episode ofBig Brother,the house guests competed in a luxury challenge to see an advance screening of the film. Although they weren't actually in the house, both Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg made an on-screen video appearance.

During the August 4, 2010, episode ofAmerica's Got Talent,the week's contestants saw an advance screening of the film and met Ferrell and Wahlberg.

Ferrell and Wahlberg also made acameo appearanceon an episode ofWWE Rawto promote the film.

During the week leading up to the release date, the film was promoted onTruTVprograms, specificallyThe Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest....During theSeason 2premier for theMTVreality seriesJersey Shoreon July 29, 2010, special segments were shown during the commercial breaks of the show's cast broken down on a highway, discussing several movies, as part of a promotional tie-in; withThe Other Guysbeing one of them.

They appeared in on screen advertising on broadcast sports events likeMLBandNASCAR.

Reception

Box office

In its first day of release,The Other Guysgrossed $13.1 million, placing first for Friday.It had a large opening weekend take of $35.5 million, placing it at #1 for the weekend of August 6–8, 2010, unseatingInception.The film ended up grossing $119.2 million in North America and $51.7 million in other territories, making for a worldwide total of $170.9 million.

Critical reception

On review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,The Other Guysholds an approval rating of 78% based on 205 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "A clever parody of cop-buddy action-comedies,The Other Guysdelivers several impressive action set pieces and lots of big laughs, thanks to the assured comic chemistry between Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. "OnMetacritic,the film was assigned a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.

The film was praised as "a highly entertaining movie filled with witty dialogue and over-the-top action."Peter TraversofRolling Stonepraised the film, saying, "Don't let anyone spoil the wildly hilarious surprises. Ferrell and Wahlberg will double your fun. Guaranteed."Some critics praisedThe Other Guysas the best police film of the year, comparing the film to the critically pannedCop Out,withRichard Roeperstating, "Note toKevin Smith:THIS is how you do a spoof of the buddy-cop genre, "and Stephen Whitty ofThe Star-Ledgersaid in his mixed review, "Measured against this year's other police farce—rememberCop Out?—it looks absolutely heroic. "

The Other Guysalso received the "Best Comedy Film" award for 2010 at the first annualComedy Awards.

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s) and nominee(s)	Result
2011	Comedy Awards	Best Comedy Film	The Other Guys	Won
		Best Comedy Actor—Film	Will Ferrell	Nominated
		Best Comedy Director—Film	Adam McKay	Nominated
	2011 Teen Choice Awards	Choice Movie—Comedy	The Other Guys	Nominated
		Choice Movie Actor—Comedy	Will Ferrell	Nominated
		Choice Movie Actress—Comedy	Eva Mendes	Nominated
		Choice Movie Chemistry	Will Ferrell andMark Wahlberg	Nominated
		Choice Movie Hissy Fit	Mark Wahlberg	Nominated

See also

• Buddy cop film
• Ponzi scheme
• In the Line of Fire
• The Pelican Brief
• Conspiracy Theory
• The Peacemaker
• Enemy of the State
• Absolute Power
• Money Monster

External links

• Official website
• The Other GuysatIMDb
• The Other GuysatAllMovie