Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2 GUNS: TWO STARS AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME

There's no denying that Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg are two of the top action stars in film these days even though there is a considerable age difference between the two. So when the word came out that they would be involved in a buddy cop movie I was ready for it to be dynamite. Fortunately 2 GUNS turned out to be just that.

The two begin the film as a pair of crooks involved with diabolical Papa Greco (Edward James Olmos), a Mexican drug lord that Robert "Bobby" Trench (Washington) has bought passports for. Unfortunately the drugs that he was supposed to be paid with are being held back by Greco who would rather pay with cash. Instead, Trench tells him to hold on to the cash until he's ready to give him the drugs.

Michael "Stig" Stigman is another character altogether. Where Trench is a cool cat, Stigman is the hot youngster ready to go at it at the drop of a hat. Stigman, unhappy with the day's events, suggests to Trench that they do something different to get more money from Greco: rob a bank where he deposits cash every week. Their guess is the take will be about $3 million.

After the two head back to the U.S. the find themselves picked up by Immigration and are held for questioning. Here is where we learn that Trench isn't the crook we thought but an undercover DEA agent. He informs his controllers that the deal didn't go through but he's on the verge which results in him being given just 2 weeks to finish the case. With so little time he suggests to his main controller Deb (Paula Patton), who he also happens to be sleeping with, that he and Stigman actually pull off the bank job to get the ball rolling.

The duo follows through on their plan with one a few hitches along the way. First off they discover that there is more than just $3 million, more like $43 million. Secondly the arresting DEA officers that were supposed to show never arrive. And lastly when the time comes for Trench to reveal himself to Stigman, Stigman shoots him and leaves him in the dessert with a bottle of water.

Stigman reports to a group of friends and we now learn that he is working for Naval Intelligence to get to the money that was in the bank. When he discusses the fact that it was more than expected and that he left Trench alive, his cohorts open fire on him and try to take him out. He escapes but barely.

The duo reunites and puts together what information they have after kidnapping Greco to find out how much he knows. While interrogating him at Deb's house, the military guys show and the twists and turns of just who is working for who and which organization is doing the backstabbing begins to reveal itself.

The movie is filled with action from start to finish. Not only that but there is a comedic quotient on display here that harkens back to the LETHAL WEAPON films of the past. While Washington may be the cool character with some decent funny lines it is Wahlberg's character that has the more funnier moments. Between his wink, his attitude and his snappy come backs, he brings the humor to the film. As for the rest of the cast they do a remarkable job of playing out their roles and not hamming it up. Seeing as how this movie is based on a graphic novel the fact they can do so shows how well they do.

With plenty of explosions and gunplay, after all the movie IS named 2 GUNS, the action quotient is one that should fulfill the needs of all adventure fans. The stars show an ability to tussle with one another and the bad guys as well as offer some gunfire play that will make you wish that these two were on your team if the need ever arose. Is it one for the shelf? Maybe. Not mine but then some of you may be die hard fans of both actors. If so you'll want this one added to your collection. .

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