DIRECTOR Baltasar Kormakur clearly decided to leave originality on the casting couch for this all-star action comedy.
The film’s premise, the pairing of its chief characters in a reluctant crime-fighting partnership, is a hackneyed habit of Hollywood and 2 Guns’ use of cinematic clichés does not end there.
Borrowing liberally from the blockbusters of yesteryear, the movie’s Mexican drugs cartel, crooked cops, bungled bank job and double crosses will all be instantly familiar.
However, plot plagiarism can be forgiven when it is done well and the on-screen chemistry and charisma of Denzel Washington (American Gangster, Training Day) and Mark Wahlberg (Contraband, Ted) ensure that is the case.
Starring as undercover operatives from competing bureaus that are forced on the run together, the pair delight with a litany of one-liners and perpetual put-downs. Not since Lethal Weapon’s Murtaugh and Riggs has an action movie double act been so entertaining.
With 2 Guns’ Mexican backdrop providing a salute to gun-slinging Westerns such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the action itself is suitably engaging with set-piece shoot outs, car chases and obligatory explosions all present and correct.
This film may lack novel ingredients but for those seeking out a “best of” compilation of the genre and easy watch it comes highly recommended.
2 Guns is available on DVD & Blu-ray from 9 December and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.