Buddy films are nothing new, but the pairing of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling is pretty irresistible. Warner Bros. released the latest trailer for its upcoming mystery crime comedy The Nice Guys Tuesday, and the two leads make the familiar genre feel fresh.
The film centers on a bumbling private investigator (played by Gosling) and a hired enforcer (Crowe), who are nothing if not an odd couple. Gosling’s character doesn’t handle high-stress situations well (cue the trailer’s frequent high-pitched screams), while Crowe’s tough guy persona doesn’t even flinch when they see a man thrown out of a window. Nonetheless, they need to work together to find Amelia (Margaret Qualley), a missing girl who is somehow involved in the mob’s expansion into Los Angeles. Along the way, they’ll get more than they bargained for by uncovering a big conspiracy.
Set in the late 1970s, the comedy has the added bonus of Gosling and Crowe donning disco-era garb. Best of all, though, is the duo’s dynamic; Gosling plays the optimist and Crowe provides the often necessary reality checks. At 1:44, for example, Gosling tries to convince a woman who has them at gunpoint that she’s not a murderer, and Crowe leans over to remind him that “she just killed three people.” Yikes.
There are a number of other hilarious highlights in the trailer, including Gosling’s daughter, Holly (Angourie Rice), learning that Crowe beats people up for a fee and trying to purchase his services. “That’s good, this conversation is over,” Gosling interjects in an attempt to stop her from buying a beating for her friend Janet.
The Nice Guys is directed by Shane Black, the writer and director of hits like Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, and Iron Man 3. This time, he co-wrote the comedy with Anthony Bagarozzi. The film co-stars Matt Bomer, Jack Kilmer, Ty Simpkins, Keith David, and Beau Knapp.
The Nice Guys opens in theaters on May 20.
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