The Nice Guys

 We may only be three weeks into the month of May, but I'm pretty sure I've already seen my favorite movie of the summer. Anchored by three fantastic performances and a cracking script and direction by Shane Black perfectly balancing thrilling action and hysterical comedy, The Nice Guys is superior action entertainment. 

Holland March (played by Ryan Gosling) is a down on his luck private eye trying to make ends meet while raising his teenage daughter Holly (played by Angourie Rice). He is hired by an older woman by the name of Mrs. Glenn (played by Lois Smith), who claims she recently saw her deceased niece, the porn star Misty Mountains (played by Murielle Telio), and hires him to find her. Initially hesitant, he agrees to take the job when he sees a connection between Misty and another missing girl Amelia Kutner (played by Margaret Qualley). However, Amelia does not want to be found and hires enforcer Jackson Healy (played by Russell Crowe) to intimidate Holland into dropping the case. Shortly after, Jackson is intimidated by two thugs who want to know where Amelia is. Jackson is able to get the upper hand and chases them off with a shotgun. Not knowing where to find Amelia himself and realizing she's in real danger, he teams up with a hesitant Holland to try and find Amelia before the thugs and the mobsters they work for do.

The film is written and directed by Shane Black with all the wonderful little plot twists and sparkling dialogue he has become famous for. The man has a knack with these kinds of films and a real love for noir tales, having previously spun tales about the adventures of Private Detectives in such outings as The Last Boy Scout and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. This one adds the wonderful flavor of the late 1970s Los Angeles to the mix as well and is recaptured quite well from the smog to the long lines at gas stations and all the other assorted small touches. The film also nicely develops it's three main characters, Holland, Jackson and Holland's daughter Holly. The interplay and bickering between Jackson and Holland is classic Shane Black while the relationship between father and daughter with Holland and Holly is well done as well as Holland is trying to bring his daughter up right while working in a profession that can be notoriously seedy. You get the sense he's trying his best to create a better life for her, especially since it's heavily inferred her mother recently died. There are little moments, like when he tries to break her bad speech habits even at inopportune times, such as when he finds her stowing away in the car as he and Jackson attend a party at a known pornographer's house ("Honey, don't say "and stuff". Just say "Dad, there are whores here."). It's those little things that add depth to the film amid all the action and chaos, of which there is plenty. Likewise, Jackson Healy is a bit of a lost character, wanting more out of his life and trying to find joy in it when he can. He aspires to be a private detective like Holland, but found himself sliding sideways into the enforcer business instead. You also get the sense he's a bit of a lonely guy and that the partnership with Holland will ultimately be a good one for him. 

Overall, The Nice Guys is classic Shane Black fun with a witty script, exciting action that is frequently and surprisingly subverted by Black and anchored by three fantastic performances from Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe and Angourie Rice. It's got thrills and laughs aplenty and also makes a nice antidote to the overblown CGI that is otherwise overwhelming cinema screens today. Every once and awhile it's nice to see an action movie that values plot and character over finding a new way to show the end of the world for the umpteenth time. If you're looking for that as well, this may be the film for you. And stuff.