2 Guns - B

Rated R, 109 minutes

Entertaining "2 Guns" is a familiar, over-the-top shoot-em-up

Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg

 "2 Guns" is a calculated, preposterous and messy action crime thriller that works in spite of itself. Why is it so enjoyable? Mainly because of the fun chemistry between two A-list movie stars in Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg and a great supporting cast. An elaborate scam has a DEA agent (Washington) and an NCIS agent (Wahlberg) investigating one another in belief that they are stealing money from the mob. But when they realize that they were set up by the CIA, they must work together to return the money and stay alive. An exciting late summer entry, "2 Guns" is directed by Baltasar Kormakur (director Wahlberg's "Contraband") and written by Blake Masters of the Showtime TV series "Brotherhood." The muddled, familiar script plays similar to other Washington or Wahlberg films; if you've seen Washington in "Man on Fire," "Out of Time" or last year's "Safe House," or Wahlberg in "Contraband" or "The Departed" then this won't be exactly revelatory stuff. Yet it's the interplay, and not the story which is most memorable here, including some amusing (albeit violent) exchanges between the two talented actors with one chase/fight scene mid film involving the two the most fun. "2 Guns" has some action-packed moments, along with one of the better supporting casts of recent memory. Watch for Edward James Olmos as a dangerous drug kingpin and Bill Paxton, having terrific fun as a truly evil CIA operative, not to mention James Marsden as a baddie and the lovely Paula Patton as Washington's love interest. Highly implausible, over-the-top and preposterously plotted is the serviceable but rarely dull "2 Guns." Filled with blood, bullets and lots of explosions, it's nothing new, but that shouldn't stop Washington and Wahlberg's fans from turning out, who won't be disappointed.

Wes's Grade: B