Revisiting THE NICE GUYS in 4K

THE NICE GUYS (4K UHD)

2016 / 116 min

From Warner Bros

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😺

Looking back at Shane Black’s directorial efforts is sort of a study in contrasts. The big budget, high-concept films have mostly been pretty middling, which is ironic considering his screenwriting career was built on them. Conversely, two of the best (and smartest) action comedies of the 21st Century, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and The Nice Guys, received comparatively little attention when first released (though both have since become highly revered).

These films share many of the same elements and narrative structure, to the point that The Nice Guys could even be seen as sort of a spiritual sequel (or prequel, since it’s set in 1977). Both are great examples of neo-noir that blend violent action and sharp comedy in equal measures. Both feature a pair of cynical protagonists who reluctantly team up to solve a case (and one is generally smarter than the other). Both star actors not typically associated with comedy at the time. Both feature intricate plots that, while interesting, you’re likely to forget in any real detail until you watch them again…which isn’t really a liability because both are endlessly rewatchable.

The secret to good detective work is to look cool smoking.

If forced to choose between them, I would probably pick The Nice Guys as the (slightly) better of the two (though I reserve the right to change my mind when I revisit Kiss Kiss, Band Bang again). This one features Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as Jackson Healy and Holland March, a couple of hard-boiled LA detectives who end up on the same case…the search for a young woman who participated in an adult film. It turns out others who worked on the movie are being murdered, which leads Healy and March to some discoveries (often accidentally) about who’s behind it all, and why.

But as well conceived as it is, the plot is secondary to the characters, performances and dialogue. Healy and March are wonderfully written. Neither are what one would mistake for morally upstanding, but they’re engagingly likable and their quasi-antagonistic relationship provides most of the move’s funniest moments. It’s two stars look like they’re having a great time playing against type, working with another clever, playful (and sometimes raunchy) Shane Black screenplay. 

This 4K release doesn’t offer any additional bonus material that hasn’t included on older formats. However, it does boast a noticeable visual upgrade from the previous Blu-ray edition, nicely preserving the film's vivid '70s aesthetic. The audio track sounds great, too, but I didn’t notice any discernible difference between either version. 

EXTRA KIBBLES

FEATURETTES - Always Bet on Black focuses on the director; Worst. Detectives. Ever. is your basic promotional making-of featurette.