2 Guns

Cast of Characters:

Bobby Trench - Denzel Washington

Marcus Stigman - Mark Wahlberg

Deb - Paula Patton

Earl - Bill Paxton

Quince - James Marsden

Admiral Tuwey - Fred Ward

Papi Greco - Edward James Olmos

Director - Baltasar Kormakur

Screenplay - Blake Masters

Based on the graphic novel series 2 Guns by Steven Grant

Rated R for violence throughout, language and brief nudity

      Academy Award winner Denzel Washington, Academy Award nominees Mark Wahlberg and Edward James Olmos, Paula Patton, James Marsden and Bill Paxton star in the buddy action flick 2 Guns. I guarantee you at least once in the movie, someone will walk away from an explosion in slow motion.

      2 Guns centers on DEA Agent Bobby Trench (Denzel Washington) and NCIS Navy Seal Marcus Stigman (Mark Wahlberg). Both have been sent to investigate each other - Trench through his superior Deb (Paula Patton) and Stigman through is superior Commander Quince (James Marsden) - with each believing the other is trying to steal money from the mob. Both are trying to infiltrate a Mexican drug cartel led by Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos). They set up a plan to rob the bank that holds Greco's money, hoping it can lead to something they can use to pin Greco down.

      After robbing the bank, both Trench and Stigman are surprised to find more money than they were expecting to find. That's when they learn they haven't robbed Papi Greco. They ripped off a CIA Agent by the name of Earl (Bill Paxton) to the tune of $43.125 million dollars. Earl's intent on getting that money back and he'll attempt to achieve by any means necessary.

      The idea of pairing up Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg onscreen together sounds appealing and is appealing. What could go wrong with having two of the most likeable screen presences currently around team up? The writing for one and at times - despite a few nice stylistic touches - the direction too. This is and yet another one of those films that fall prey to the idea that more twists and turns equal a better movie. Even M. Night Shyamalan limited it to just one per film. To be fair, there are certainly moments that work in this film. There's a great moment between Washington and Paxton involving a game of Russian Roulette that's both comical and tense. Overall, though, it just comes off as too inconsistent. For every moment that entertains, there's one of "Hey, look at that. Someone else is whipping a gun out and going, 'Gotcha!!'" It's a damn shame too, 'cause if this film does have anything going for it, it's the talented cast, and everyone's great here. Both Paxton and Olmos seem to have fun chewing the scenery as the villains. Paula Patton's always a welcome screen presence, and Washington and Wahlberg do have some solid "buddy cop" chemistry together. It really boils down to the writing and the on and off direction that ultimately leads to a climatic finale where everyone just so happens to conveniently show up at the right place at the right time and in a way it derails the story a bit. Now should I have known this is gonna be formulaic from the get-go? Yes, and I did. That's no excuse for weak writing though. Plus, yes - "Make it rain!" - we do have the token slow motion walk away from the explosion moment. I honestly believe that with any film contract Wahlberg signs, his agent makes sure there's a provision that demands at least one "Cool guys don't look at explosions!" moment.

      I will say that someday I hope to see Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg in another film again 'cause one of the bright spots in this film is those two together. They really work well onscreen. The weak script here doesn't. I'm still gonna give this a mild recommendation 'cause the cast at least made my time not feel wasted. So when it's available to rent, sure, pick it up and also pick up Three Kings with Mark Wahlberg and Training Day with Denzel Washington. I give 2 Guns a C+ (★★½).

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