The Rat Pack (2016)

IMDb

Trailer

A private eye investigates the apparent suicide of a fading porn star in 1970s Los Angeles and uncovers a conspiracy.

Since we've got Shane Black directing and Shane Black writing, I think most of us have a pretty good idea of what kind of ride we're in for, especially with such a stellar cast lined up! To be honest, I wouldn't say this is at the very top of my must-watch list right now—looking at the trailer, it feels like it might be trying just a little too hard to grab our attention—but hey, I'm always happy to dive into something different to shake things up from all those endless Marvel / DC / Star Trek / Star Wars marathons. Cheers! 🙂

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is fantastic. This looks like it might be heading in that same direction.

Jack Murphy5 said:Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is fantastic. This looks like it might be heading in that same direction.

To be totally honest—and I feel a little guilty even saying this—I actually found it pretty exhausting to sit through! There were several moments where I just completely lost my focus because it felt so heavy.🙂

I can't say I'm an expert, but I happened to catch him on TV once by pure chance, and I actually thought he was quite good. 😁

Ryan Gosling looks like a total shrimp standing next to Russell Crowe.
I mean, I still liked the movie, though. It’s... okay. Moderately optimistic, I guess.

Mild spoilers ahead!

That scene where Ryan Gosling is scrambling all over the floor looking for the gun near Russell Crowe's leg? Seriously, that was hands down one of the funniest things I’ve seen all year—I almost lost it right there in my living room. The way they both react, and even the lady's reaction, it’s just comedy gold. Everything about it is perfect.

There are tons of hilarious moments sprinkled throughout, especially once you hit the final act.

A fun movie to watch with friends

The chemistry between Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling is just fantastic 👍

this movie is honestly a blast! 👍

While I’ll still argue that Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the superior film, this one is definitely going to land better with a broader audience. It leans less on constant meta-commentary and relies much more on physical comedy delivered in that classic Shane Black style.

I’d suggest this one to any fans of action-comedies who don't mind a healthy dose of dark humor.

The only thing that truly rubbed me the wrong way was that scene where our detective duo heads out to collect some cash from a Black woman who’s on the payroll for the main villainess. 😕...it just doesn't track for me why they’d even attempt something like that now, especially since they actually trust Amelia.

goldenhound32 said:The only thing that truly rubbed me the wrong way was that scene where our detective duo heads out to collect some cash from a Black woman who’s on the payroll for the main villainess. 😕...it just doesn't track for me why they’d even attempt something like that now, especially since they actually trust Amelia.

Yeah, but don't forget—Ryan Gosling has had his eye on her from the jump, and right now he’s basically desperate to charm her, so he'll do just about anything. Plus, he mentions that Russell Crowe reached out to him on his own without being asked, and they're standing there arguing over who to trust, maybe thinking both sides are telling the truth... remember that hilarious bit with the Nixon story (which leads to that crazy pool scene later)...
Basically, Ryan Gosling is totally obsessed with this woman, and later, when he's pointing a gun at him, he talks about how she's got good deep down... then he even puts a pillow under her head after he knocks her out with that iced coffee 👏

@Mark White11
I'm fully aware of all that, yet I still feel a bit foolish for thinking otherwise. I simply refuse to believe the character is actually that naive. More importantly, I can't wrap my head around the idea that a character played by Russell Crowe could be talked into such sheer stupidity.

goldenhound32 said:@Mark White11
I'm fully aware of all that, yet I still feel a bit foolish for thinking otherwise. I simply refuse to believe the character is actually that naive. More importantly, I can't wrap my head around the idea that a character played by Russell Crowe could be talked into such sheer stupidity.

Look, from the jump, they made it super clear who Ryan Gosling’s character is... I mean, the guy gets hammered and then decides to go swimming with sirens right in the middle of an investigation. You can't just decide halfway through the movie that you want him to be different and suddenly claim it's "stupid"... if you're gonna complain, just go off on everything he does—like how his thirteen-year-old daughter is driving him around, or how she spills all the info to Russell Crowe the second they share a moment at the start, etc., etc...

Russell Crowe's character works because he's suspicious and is basically just covering this idiot's ass. And honestly? He doesn't even seem to care much.

@Mark White11
Alright, I suppose I can concede that point regarding the Gosling-esque character now that you've brought up the sirens, but there is absolutely no way I'm giving the same credit to the Crowe-esque one. The guy figures out Kim Basinger is the villain within two minutes—even though it’s painfully obvious how much leverage someone in her position holds—and yet he still leaves Amelia hanging all by herself. 👎

goldenhound32 said:@Mark White11
Alright, I suppose I can concede that point regarding the Gosling-esque character now that you've brought up the sirens, but there is absolutely no way I'm giving the same credit to the Crowe-esque one. The guy figures out Kim Basinger is the villain within two minutes—even though it’s painfully obvious how much leverage someone in her position holds—and yet he still leaves Amelia hanging all by herself. 👎

Yeah, and honestly, that part bugged me too—when she's home alone and just lets this doctor walk right in without even checking his credentials.
I feel like the script is riddled with plot holes, but Shane Black kind of masks them with all that sharp humor and fun. Just think about that scene where she literally falls onto his car—it makes zero sense considering what floor she was on and the fact that there was an actual killer running loose in the apartment.

Mark White11 said:Yeah, and honestly, that part bugged me too—when she's home alone and just lets this doctor walk right in without even checking his credentials.
I feel like the script is riddled with plot holes, but Shane Black kind of masks them with all that sharp humor and fun. Just think about that scene where she literally falls onto his car—it makes zero sense considering what floor she was on and the fact that there was an actual killer running loose in the apartment.

And yeah, it was so ridiculous I’m convinced Shane Black did it on purpose just to poke fun at genre tropes. If we're playing by action-comedy rules, fine. But where did she fall from? Who knows. If she had fallen from a penthouse window, she would've been dead.

Here's another meta gag for you: twice in the film, characters actually say, "And here comes the police." 🤣

Honestly, this is easily my favorite movie of the year so far.

I find it to be quite excellent myself.

I think most of you hit the nail on the head. Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe were fantastic, and the little girl was great too. There were some really intense moments—that scene with the kid on the bike was top-tier. 🤣
The actor playing Cheta actually reminds me quite a bit of a young Val Kilmer during the movie; now I see why his son looks just like him. 🙂

Personally, I think Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is just a hair better.

A solid 8/10 for me.

Just like most people on this thread are saying, it’s fun—really, really fun.
For me, nothing beats the asparagus base; I'm not sure if anyone else has even noticed that 🙂

I noticed, naturally. 🙂