In movies this predictable you just hope for a scene or a moment that reminds you fondly about something else. If your lucky, the cast is stocked with someone or a few somebodys who can do that for you. In 2 Guns, it is easy with Denzel, Marky Mark, Edward James Olmos and Bill Paxton. Olmos will always be remembered for his days bossing, ever quietly, Crockett and Tubbs around and to this day he just seems to be the perfect boss. In this movie, he runs a drug cartel, no surprise, but somehow the whole Mexico deal feels more authentic when he is muttering commands. Bill Paxton seems more authentic now in any role now that he shivered and vomited on Apollo 13. And the unending banter between Wahlberg and Washington is simply refreshing. In aggregate you can look past the gratuitous violence and pithy story to a happy place.
Male Stars -
Good
3.0
Denze (Bobby Trench)l and Marky Mark renew your Man Card covering the full range of what it means to be an American guy. Girl chasing, ball-busting, bad-guy chasing, repenting and forgiving fun, front to back. It's becoming a habit to say that Marky Mark has chemistry with his co-star, and you notice that Marky grows on Denzel, who is initially skeptical of the pairing at the outset just like you the ticker holder. For his part, Marky Mark is forever young and energetic which we hope will survive our retirement because it is refreshing.
Female Stars -
Good
3.0
Paula Patton plays Deb Rees who by the grace of God is a man magnet. She tries real hard in this movie and the role doesn't ask much of her so her yet non-evident range is easily drowned out by the car scenes, the guy banter, and the gun fights. But she will get another role or two, and hopefully she will be asked to play something other than a double crossing lover which might be how it all ends in Hollywood for her if Jennifer Lawrence doesn't decide to enter sports journalism or something.
Female Costars -
Good
3.0
None to speak of although we all have winked at a waitress in a diner before so Margie Deberry must have done alright in that role.
Male Costars -
Good
3.0
I enjoy the body of work from Bill Paxton over the years, but a highly placed government agent with crooked leanings and a Mississippi accent he is not. Never believable and never defined from the script, we just know that he was mightily wronged, mightily mad about it and gets what he deserves at the end. Olmos as Papi Greco is a touch more believable in his role as villain and I like the adaptation from the Hannibal Lecter gore-a-thons using a raging bull instead of a stampede of wild boars. He also perfectly fits Marky's depiction of him making those lines more memorable for Wahlberg.
