Right off the bat I need to apologize for a review that I did earlier this year. I gave the Kevin Smith buddy-cop comedy "Cop Out," starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, four stars and recommended it, stating that the film was a throwback to the classic buddy-cop movies of the '80s and '90s like "Lethal Weapon," "48 Hours" and "Midnight Run." Boy was I wrong! In defense of my moment of delusion I think that I liked the concept of "Cop Out" a lot more than the film itself. I genuinely like Willis, Morgan and the film's director Kevin Smith so I think I sort of gave them a big pass. After seeing "The Other Guys," starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, I realize how wrong I was about "Cop Out" as this film was done right and is a true throwback to the great buddy-cop films of our youth. It's clever, funny, action-packed and inverts the genre just enough to be both original and still pay homage to its predecessors.

Adam McKay, who also co-wrote the script and has directed Ferrell before in films like "Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby" and "Step Brothers," directs this movie. The actor and director clearly have a short hand together and it is apparent, as this film may be their best yet. Ferell is at his awkward best in the movie but the filmmakers found an interesting way of establishing his character in a hilarious and believable way. Wahlberg was also impressive in his role and was smart to not try too hard to be too funny in the film. Instead the actor opted to play the role in a serious manner, much like a heightened version of his "The Departed" character and allow Ferrell and the scripts smart writing tell the jokes. Wahlberg and Ferrell have a great chemistry together and are believable as the reluctant partners. The two actors take turns being the straight man and the comedian and both are strong in those roles.

Actress Eva Mendes is great in a very funny role that could have easily become a one-joke-pony but instead feels fresh and funny throughout the movie. Actors Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson have two terrific supporting roles in the film and are allowed the opportunity to poke fun at their own on-screen personas. Rounding out the phenomenal cast as the police squad's Captain is the great Michael Keaton who seemed to have semi-retired for a while but has come back this summer with a vengeance in both this film and "Toy Story 3." The film also includes hilarious cameo performances from both actress Brooke Shields and New York Yankee Derek Jeter as themselves. Comedians Steve Coogan (Night At The Museum), Rob Riggle ("The Hangover"), Rob Huebel ("Childrens' Hospital") and Damon Wayans Jr. are also terrific and funny in their supporting roles.

The film begins by introducing us to New York City Detectives Allen Gamble (Will Ferrell) and Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg). Gamble is a forensic accountant who prefers paperwork to fieldwork and Hoitz is a former-hotshot detective who was benched and partnered with Gamble after an embarrassing and hilarious shooting that has practically destroyed his career. The rest of the precinct and practically the entire city look up to celebrity Cops Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) and Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and Hoitz longs for the recognition that the other two officers receive. When Highsmith and Danson are no longer able to perform their duties (thanks to a scene that you will never see coming) Hoitz smells his opportunity to get back in the spotlight but is having a hard time dealing with his new partner who harbors a dark-side of his own and a wife, Dr. Sheila Gamble (Eva Mendes), who seems way too smart and way too hot to be married to him. Eventually Gamble stumbles on to a major crime and Hoitz encourages the two to investigate it themselves but that will be easier said then done for the reluctant partners. Now the detectives must put their differences aside and work together in order to solve the case and redeem themselves in the eyes of their fellow cops.

The film scores a home run delivering believable comedy along with pulse-pounding action and McKay does a great job of balancing the two tones. The script is what really works here as its clever twists and innovative jokes elevate the film from being a cheap genre knock-off like "Cop Out" or "From Paris With Love" to a truly original film that has merit as a quality film outside of its buddy-cop genre. Giving Ferrell's character a secret "pimp" alter ego and an aggressively sexual relationship with wife Mendes is a stroke of genius and plays very well in the film. As does baseball player Derek Jeter's role in the film and I have to guess that Wahlberg's being from Boston had a role in Jeter's casting. Another great running gag in the movie is Keaton's Police Captain's continual references to old TLC songs and his repeated assurance that it is an accident and that he has no idea who TLC is? Jackson and Johnson are fantastic in their limited roles and lend a certain authenticity to the action aspect of the film. But it is Ferrell and Wahlberg's teamwork and onscreen chemistry that really makes the film work on all levels. In the end, The Other Guys is a clever, funny and original twist on the classic buddy-cop film and is a must-see for any fan of the action/comedy genre.