Drug lords who upset a quiet Irish town sets up for an entertaining, but at times convoluting, dark comedy in The Guard.
Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson), portrays an Irish policeman whose street-smart ethics have served him well. He wisecracks without delay and knows how to do his job well.
Best known for his supporting roles in the Harry Potter series, Braveheart and Gangs of New York, Gleeson is the best part of the movie. Although it takes the audience awhile to like him, Gleeson’s charm absorbs the audience as the movie goes on.
Right as Boyle gets comfortable in his job, drug smugglers (Mark Strong, Liam Cunningham, David Wilmot) sneak into the quiet town with half a billion dollars worth of cocaine and start unsettling the area.
FBI agent, Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle), is imported from the U.S. to find the smugglers. But Wendell’s straight-laced style clashes with Boyle’s unorthodox principles.
At this point, the film begins to find similarities with Hot Fuzz and In Bruges, which also starred Gleeson. While this dark comedy is not as funny as Hot Fuzz or as dark as In Bruges, The Guard stands on its own as a good buddy-cop movie.
Writer/director John Michael McDonaghis able to mix comedy, drama and thriller elements together in a way that flows well with its characters and story. He also pulls the audience into the film’s environment by capturing quiescence Irish scenery.
Too many subplots drag the movie down at times, especially during the middle. While some of these scenes include clever and humorous dialogue, they break away from the story and what is happening in the main plotline.
Despite the movie’s buddy-cop feel, Everett and Boyle are not seen together on screen as much as one would expect. When they do appear in conjunction, their presence livens up the film’s tedious moments.
Ultimately, there are other films like it, some of which are better. Gleeson shines in The Guard and finally gets to prove his talent in a meatier role.
3.5 out of 5 stars
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