When Ryan Gosling returns from outer space in Project Hail Mary and Star Wars: Starfighter, he must reunite with Russell Crowe and Shane Black for a much-needed sequel to The Nice Guys. The wildly amusing and highly replayable action comedy set in the 1970s flips the classic buddy-cop formula on its ear, with the hilarious chemistry between Gosling and Crowe far too good not to continue in some capacity.
Indeed, almost 10 years after its 2016 summer release, The Nice Guys remains one of the best yet most criminally overlooked action comedies of the 21st century. Fans have clamored for a sequel ever since, still reeling from the sick irony that, of all things, The Nice Guys got destroyed by The Angry Birds Movie at the box office. While it’s said that nice guys finish last, it’s high time to round up Black, Gosling, and Crowe to prioritize an official sequel.
‘The Nice Guys’ Subverts the Buddy-Cop Subgenre
From writer/director Shane Black, The Nice Guys is a massively entertaining buddy-action neo-noir set in 1977 Los Angeles. In a classic odd-couple dynamic, the story pairs bumbling private eye Holland March (Gosling) with the gruff, no-nonsense muscle Jackson Healy (Crowe). The assignment is to find a missing teenage girl named Amelia (Margaret Qualley) who vanished after being last seen shooting an amateur adult film.
As March and Healy work the case, explore Los Angeles, cull clues, and interrogate possible suspects linked to Amelia’s disappearance, the electric chemistry between Gosling and Crowe sizzles off the screen. Crowe plays the tight-lipped straight man, so to speak, while Gosling gives a hysterical slapstick performance that evokes the best of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. As an older and more experienced detective, Healy has far more wily street smarts than March, who bumbles and fumbles his way through every investigative venture.
Adding tremendous heart to the film is Angourie Rice as March’s precocious daughter, Holly March. Holly keeps her father honest and on track with the investigation when his absurd theories and frustrations with Healy increase. But make no mistake. The main appeal here is the riotous rapport between Gosling and Crowe, with Shane Black’s genre expertise remaining one step ahead of the viewer.
Remember, Shane Black wrote Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. He is the master of subverting the buddy-cop formula with bullet-fast dialogue, a genre he has been mastering since the 1980s. With The Nice Guys, Black is in full control of his storytelling craft, with Gosling and Crowe’s incredible dynamic elevating all involved.
‘The Nice Guys’ Is Ryan Gosling’s Best Action Comedy Performance
With an incredibly eclectic filmography that has earned him three Oscar nods to date, Ryan Gosling has never been funnier than in The Nice Guys. Most moviegoers likely associate Gosling with his serious dramatic turns in Half Nelson, Drive, The Place Beyond the Pines, The Notebook, Blue Valentine, Blade Runner 2049, La La Land, First Man, and others.
However, Gosling has demonstrated his comedic chops going back to quirky indies like Lars and the Real Girl, broad rom-coms like Crazy, Stupid Love, and huge blockbuster events like Barbie. Yet, the only performance that comes close to mixing the perfect blend of action and comedy is The Fall Guy, a much more low-key romantic turn than the uproarious slapstick absurdity seen in The Nice Guys.
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In The Nice Guys, Gosling has no problem playing the fool for the audience’s amusement. Rather, he happily leans into the role of an inept detective whose pre-teen daughter is much smarter than he is, and whose grumpy new partner constantly harangues him and pokes fun at his silly tactics. March gets physically battered with comedic results during the search for Amelia, with Gosling giving one of his most physically taxing performances, which adds to the humor.
The sheer disgust with which Healy looks down on March’s ridiculous shenanigans as he incurs broken bones and black eyes is truly hilarious, with Gosling and Crowe proving to be the perfect pairing. Nearly every review, even the negative ones, singled out the palpable rapport between the two stars. Sadly, the movie was overshadowed at the box office, and the chances of a sequel were quickly nixed.
Why ‘The Nice Guys’ Never Got a Sequel
Warner Bros.
The Nice Guys being toppled by Angry Birds is an irony too hard to stomach. Yet, according to Gosling, that’s precisely why The Nice Guys never received a sequel from Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. The Nice Guys was released on May 20, 2016, earning $36.2 million domestically and $71.2 million globally (via Box Office Mojo). With a $50 million budget, the underrated action comedy was deemed a financial flop. The film has since gained a cult following, with many fans still wanting and welcoming a sequel.
Despite voicing interest in making a sequel, Gosling insists it isn’t likely to happen ever. Speaking with ComicBook to promote The Fall Guy, Gosling stated:
“So much of a sequel, I think, is decided by the opening weekend of a movie. We opened up against Angry Birds. So, Angry Birds just destroyed us. Angry Birds got a sequel.”
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Once The Nice Guys was outperformed by the animated video game movie, Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. decided not to pursue a sequel. Yet, with streaming and cable showings, The Nice Guys has continued to increase its cult following in the past decade. If ever there was a Ryan Gosling movie that deserved a sequel, his effortlessly hysterical physical comedy opposite Russell Crowe in The Nice Guys is hard to beat.
The Nice Guys is available to stream on Fubo & Paramount+
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