Shane Black’s The Nice Guys is one of my favorite movies released in the past decade. Starring the terrific duo of Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, it’s one of the most charming and hilarious action comedy movies ever made. Sadly, it underperformed at the box office (making a sequel unlikely), but it’s grown quite beloved by those who have seen it since then. Now, finally, The Nice Guys 4K release is available to own from Warner Bros.
“Set in 1970s Los Angeles, down-on-his-luck private eye Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and hired leg-breaker Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) must work together to solve the case of a missing girl and the seemingly unrelated death of a porn star. During their investigation, they uncover a shocking conspiracy that reaches up to the highest circles of power,” says the official description.
What really made The Nice Guys such a terrific film is the top-notch chemistry between Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. The two form a reluctant team in search of a missing porn star, which winds up being a fun mystery plot, and it’s really all of Shane Black’s strengths in one film, as it has hilarious dialogue, solid action, and a surprising amount of heart. Strong supporting performances by Margaret Qualley, Kim Basinger, and Angourie Rice round out the well-casted comedy.
On the technical side, The Nice Guys 4K disc looks really great, with the deep blacks and rich colors really popping in UHD. It’s a visually splendid watch and the best the film has ever looked at home. Audio-wise, there’s a great DTS-HD 5.1 track, which sounds great. It’s an easy recommendation to upgrade from the Blu-ray as both the laughs and action come through better than ever.
Sadly, the special features on The Nice Guys 4K release are as slim as the previous Blu-ray release. There’s no audio commentary, which would’ve been a gem considering the personalities involved, although there are two featurettes. First is a five-minute video called “Always Bet on Black” focusing on Shane Black, while there’s also a six-minute video called “Worst. Detectives. Ever. Making The Nice Guys,” which is a fun overview of how the film was made. Both are worth the watch but feel more like a tease than anything as something more in-depth would’ve been wildly entertaining.
The Nice Guys 4K Review: Final Verdict
The wait was worth it, as The Nice Guys is finally available in ultra-high definition. The 4K release is a bit on the thin side when it comes to bonus features, but it’s great where it counts, as the film looks and sounds great. This is one of the most rewatchable and funniest movies released in the past decade, so be sure to pick it up if you’re looking for a good time.
Product was provided by the distributor for our The Nice Guys 4K review.
