I wasn’t sure what to expect from the unorthodox pairing of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg but it turns out they make a likeable comedic duo.  They’ve teamed up in The Other Guys to play two goofball police officers.  Ferrell plays Allen Gamble – a forensic accountant who loves to sit at his desk and fill out pointless paperwork.  He’s a nerd, pure and simple.  Wahlberg plays Terry Hoitz – an action-loving detective who was demoted after accidentally shooting a big-name baseball player.  He has serious anger management issues.

Tired of being the “losers” in the office, Allen and Terry want to make a name for themselves.  They want to get out on the street and bring down some hardened criminals.  I should point out that these guys are not like the super-intelligent detectives you might see on CSI: New York.  They have absolutely no idea what they’re doing.  There’s one moment where they turn up at a crime scene and accidentally drive their car over a dead body.  There’s another segment where they get confused with the good-cop / bad-cop routine.

Despite all their deficiencies, they miraculously find themselves on the tail of a high-profile businessman (Coogan) who is up to something dodgy.  They just need to figure out what it is and who is involved.  This is their chance to impress.

I think I suffer from biopolar disorder when it comes to Will Ferrell comedies.  I hated Talladega Nights and I didn’t care much for Anchorman.  Both those films were written and directed by Adam McKay, the same guy responsible for The Other Guys.  For whatever reason (probably because I took my correct medication), I found this much funnier.

Ferrell and Wahlberg are great alongside each other.  I’ve become accustomed to seeing Wahlberg in dramatic/action roles but he’s branched out in 2010 with his humorous performance in The Other Guys and his scene-stealing efforts in Date Night.  The film is further strengthened by its quirky supporting characters.  Michael Keaton stands out as a police captain who works a second job at a bedding store so he can send his bisexual son to college.  Need I say any more?

I started to tire during the film’s second half but The Other Guys deserves inclusion in my list of Will Ferrell comedies that I’m willing to endorse.