The Nice Guys

"In a mainstream cinema landscape that often seems driven by concession – to the studio, the investors, the marketers, the distributors, certain demographics, the foreign market, the domestic market, the Stone Cutters – there are few things more satisfying than seeing a populist filmmaker getting to do exactly what he wants on a large canvas."

"An ultra-violent burlesque, the sort of cheerfully hostile buddy bash that’s been a staple since the ’80s, only this one is singularly clever about its own triviality..."

"Ryan Gosling in a physical action-comedy? Whoever thought of the idea should be crowned genius of the year."

"Think of The Nice Guys as candy noir: all the key ingredients from mysteries such as Chinatown and The Long Goodbye poured into a tall glass, then topped up with sugar syrup..."

"Even nostalgic nonsense requires more than attitude and energy, which is all that Mr. Black has to offer. And despite all its restless detective work... is unable to track down a soul or a reason for being."

"[Black] creates some outrageously contrived and protracted shootouts and one or two good old fashioned action explosions. But he also keeps the dialogue cracking along."

"They both have a keen feel for the throwaway line and Crowe's bearishness is a nice counterpoint to Gosling's doomed attempts to stay ahead of the game."

"There are even times when Black seems to be letting Crowe and Gosling make the whole thing up as they go along. Not a bad thing."

"Though the plot here may be a confusing, multi-threaded mess ... it's occasionally offset by the exuberance with which Black blends splatter and slapstick, and the leeway he grants his two very game leads."

"A blast."

"Gosling and Crowe have a surprisingly fizzy, ferret-and-bull chemistry, and the hedonistic Me Decade setting is groovy..."