The Nice Guys is a surprisingly decent movie and a great comedy. Now, mind you it is still a comedy and doesn't aim to have a deeper meaning, but it is very good for what it is trying to be.

The movie starts off pretty silly and therefore sets the tone quite well. Flashy neon titles appear on the screen, indicating the time and place we are in and then we follow a young boy, stealing a porn magazine, when a car crashes through the house and said pornstar appears in front of him, dying in the exact pose as depicted in his magazine. It is very clear that this movie is not meant to be taken seriously and it doesn't shy away from showing raw nudity or violence, take it as a heads-up, if you will.

Next, we are introduced to our character in the stereotypical narrative style complete with fitting background music and a montage of what our down-on-their-luck protagonists do. Healy, played by Russell Crowe, is an enforcer, who likes to compare himself to a private investigator. He is ruthless and brutal, but he has a sweet core and in the end actually longs to do good, as we will see later in the film. What's so satisfying about this character is that he acts absolutely professional and holds himself back, never hurting anyone more than he has to, yet he never seems like a psychopath. March, played by Ryan Gosling, however, actually is a private investigator, but not a very good one. He cheats, he lies and he folds very easily. Nevertheless, he is not an unlikable character due to the wonderful relationship with his daughter Holly. Now, usually what this sort of buddy-comedy does is pair two completely opposite characters with another to create tension and laughter in their different approaches. Yet, in this movie they are pretty similar persons. Both are ruthless dunks, doing pretty much the same thing, only one has an actual license and is much less qualified, tho not useless...sometimes.

There is usually one or two things that drive every movie and here it clearly is the chemistry between our three protagonists, if you count Holly. Their relationships seem to evolve more naturally than in most comedies, nothing feels forced, all earned. Now, onto Holly. She is a thirteen years old girl, who talks and acts like an adult and, to everyone's surprise, the actor, Angourie Rice, can actually pull it off. Instead of being an annoying dead-weight, she actually helps with their tasks in quite a funny way. Her open, honest relationship with her dad, March, probably is where most of the hilarious moments stem from.

Even though the plot is not actually so important, it is quite interesting to see unfold. You do wonder what happens next and the fight-scenes, as well as the shootouts are thrilling.

All in all, there is little reason not to watch this movie, if you don't mind comedies and the occasional nudity, vulgarity and violence. The atmosphere of a 70s Los Angeles is pretty convincingly conveyed, the humour is spot on and the plot is interesting and gripping enough, but most of all the chemistry between the main characters are the heart and soul of this movie.