I Laughed. I Cackled. I Spilled My Drink.
There's a moment in The Nice Guys—you know the one—where Ryan Gosling's Holland March tries to look cool while climbing over a bathroom stall… and ends up screaming like a banshee with his pants down. It's the cinematic equivalent of slipping on a banana peel in front of your crush. And yet? Somehow? It's genius.
This isn't just a review. It's a plea. A passionate love letter to the weird, the wild, the wildly underrated comedy that is The Nice Guys (2016). You probably missed it. Most people did. But that doesn't mean you should keep sleeping on one of the funniest, most unexpectedly sharp films of the 2010s.
Forget Buddy Cop Tropes—This Is Neo-Noir with Belly Laughs
You've seen buddy cop movies before. The angry veteran. The clumsy rookie. Yawn. Hollywood keeps baking the same cookie and calling it dessert. But The Nice Guys? It bakes a flaming croissant and throws it at your face.
Set in smoggy, sleazy 1977 Los Angeles, the film pairs down-on-his-luck private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) with the stone-faced enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe). One's a mess. The other punches people for cash. Together, they unravel a conspiracy involving porn stars, Detroit car manufacturers, and a missing girl named Amelia who may or may not be dead.
Sounds confusing? Don't worry. You're not here for plot. You're here for Gosling squealing like a drunk ferret and Crowe delivering threats like your high school principal on a bad day.
Let's Talk About That Bathroom Scene
This deserves its own shrine.
Picture this: Gosling's character is mid-investigation. He hears a noise in the bathroom stall. He wants to look intimidating. So, obviously, he props open the stall door with a gun in one hand and a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Cool guy, right?
Nope.
He loses control of the door, drops everything, falls over, screams, and ends up pants-down in the fetal position. It's like Buster Keaton met Lethal Weapon. Slapstick meets noir. Chef's kiss.
Why This Comedy Actually Has Brains (No, Seriously)
Here's the uncomfortable truth: most modern comedies are just improv-heavy messes with fart jokes and a cameo from Will Ferrell. The Nice Guys is different. It's smarter than it lets on.
Shane Black, the genius behind Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Iron Man 3, doesn't just write punchlines—he writes punchy dialogue that serves a purpose. Every gag in this film either reveals character, builds tension, or sets up a bigger laugh down the line. It's humor with structure. Like a stand-up set disguised as a mystery.
Want proof? The recurring joke about Nixon's face popping up everywhere—from a bowling alley to a hallucination—doubles as both absurd humor and a metaphor for the corrupt, paranoid times. Boom. Mic drop.
Did Ryan Gosling Secretly Make a Career-Best Comedy Turn?
Absolutely.
If your idea of Gosling is moody stares in Drive or romantic longing in The Notebook, The Nice Guys will slap you across the face with joy. He's unhinged here. He screams. He fumbles. He yells at bees. He has a drunk scene where he talks to a hallucinated dead body like he's ordering brunch.
And yet—here's the twist—he nails every beat. It's controlled chaos. Comedy gold. Oscar-worthy? Probably not. But criminally underappreciated? Heck yes.
Russell Crowe, meanwhile, plays the straight man with brute force and dry wit. It's a masterclass in comic restraint. Together, they have chemistry that feels like a shaken soda can—volatile, fizzy, and just waiting to explode.
Fun Facts That'll Make You Love It More
- The script sat in Hollywood limbo for over a decade before finally being made. In that time, the main characters were almost reimagined as female leads for TV.
- Margaret Qualley, who plays the missing Amelia, is the real-life daughter of Andie MacDowell. Acting runs in the family.
- Angourie Rice, who plays Gosling's whip-smart daughter, basically steals the movie. If there's ever a sequel (please, movie gods), she deserves top billing.
- Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling's banter was so natural that Shane Black encouraged improv on set—leading to gems like “You know who else was just following orders? Hitler.”
What Critics Missed: This Is Noir Done Differently
While critics appreciated the cleverness, many framed it as “just another quirky comedy.” But look closer. The Nice Guys is part of a rare breed: comedies that double as commentary.
It satirizes the corruption of the 1970s, the gas-guzzling greed of corporations, and the ineptitude of the people trying to stop it. All while never losing its slapstick edge.
This isn't just a throwback. It's a clever punch in the ribs to every genre it mimics.
Should You Watch It? Only If You Like Laughing
Here's the deal. If you enjoy:
- Off-beat humor
- Fast-paced dialogue
- Absurd-yet-smart storylines
- Movies that aren't afraid to be weird
Then The Nice Guys isn't just a good pick—it's a necessity. Add it to your queue. Watch it with friends. Or watch it alone and cackle like a madman.
FAQs About The Nice Guys
Is The Nice Guys based on a true story?
Nope—but it nails the vibe of corrupt 1970s L.A. like a fever dream mixed with old-school detective pulp.
Why did The Nice Guys flop at the box office?
Poor marketing and an unfortunate release window. It came out against The Angry Birds Movie. Seriously.
Is there going to be a sequel to The Nice Guys?
Sadly, nothing official yet. But fans (and Gosling) have expressed interest. We can dream.
What's the rating of The Nice Guys?
It's rated R—for language, violence, nudity, and more glorious chaos than a goat in a library.
Where can I stream The Nice Guys?
Check Netflix, Prime Video, or rent it on YouTube. It's worth the $3.99. Trust me.
What makes The Nice Guys different from other buddy cop films?
The writing, the setting, the actors, and the commitment to actual humor—not just explosions with jokes stapled on.
Final Verdict: Laugh Hard, Think Harder
Imagine if Quentin Tarantino directed Pineapple Express with a hangover—that's The Nice Guys. It's messy, it's brilliant, and it's funnier than most movies dare to be.
So, do yourself a favor. Revisit this underrated gem. Watch Gosling scream. Watch Crowe punch people calmly. Watch L.A. burn under the weight of conspiracies and disco tracks.
And laugh. Because in a world full of reboots, The Nice Guys is the rare original that still feels fresh.
Would you risk loving a movie this weird? Comment below.
Looking for a good laugh? This film has earned its spot on our carefully curated list of The Best Comedies on Prime Video ! If you're in the mood for more chuckles, check out the full lineup. From witty banter to side-splitting antics, we've got something for every comedy lover. Dive in and discover your next favorite feel-good movie—because laughter truly is the best medicine!
