THE REWATCHABLES · March 23, 2026
A 2016 comedy / action / noir / buddy movie directed by Shane Black—and decision no. 100 in the Hanks–Cruise tape.
ON THIS EPISODE
FROM THE CONVERSATION
WHY IT WORKS
WHAT DID NOT WORK
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
The film starts with overhead Los Angeles imagery before a car crashes through a house, which the hosts praise as a perfect cold open.
Opening minutesThe sequence with the gun, the bathroom stall, and Gosling getting punched is described as one of the funniest parts of the movie.
About 24 minThe porn party is singled out as the most rewatchable scene because it has mermaids, fight choreography, a death, and absurd dialogue.
About 24 minA short but extremely funny bit, especially the Hitler joke and Gosling's reaction as the doors close.
About 32 minThe Nixon pool callback and conspiracy reveal are treated as satisfying recurring-payoff material.
About 32 minDropping the body over the fence into a dinner party is praised as an escalating gag.
About 32 minWHERE THEY DISAGREED
Bill SimmonsUltimately chooses the porn party scene.
Chris RyanAlso favors the porn party but notes the Chet bike scene as special.
Rob MahoneyDoes not materially disagree and accepts the choice.
Bill SimmonsYes, this is his best performance ever.
Chris RyanSuggests The Insider is the main competition.
Rob MahoneyAgrees it is one of Crowe's best and crucial to the movie.
Bill SimmonsBlames Angry Birds and the timing of the release.
Chris RyanJokes that Neighbors 2 and the decline of R-rated comedies also matter.
Bill SimmonsSuggests Holly Hunter, Frances McDormand, Diane Lane, Sharon Stone, or Demi Moore as possibilities.
Rob MahoneyUltimately lands on Andie MacDowell as the best fit.
Chris RyanMostly focuses on why Basinger herself feels miscast.
Says the movie was meant to become a beloved cult movie and essentially became that almost immediately.
Opening minutesArgues the movie is a great dialogue movie that rewards both focused and distracted viewing.
Opening minutesCalls this his favorite Gosling performance and says the film proves Gosling can be funny in a broad comedic way.
About 8 minArgues that Gosling's willingness to look stupid is crucial and rare among current stars.
About 8 minSays Crowe is phenomenal and the movie needs his counterweight and principles.
About 16 minCalls this the best Crowe has ever been, while still acknowledging The Insider as the main competition.
About 56 minFrames Black as a top-tier screenwriter and one of the best at buddy-movie writing.
About 16 minSays the plot is hard to follow on a first watch but becomes easier and funnier on repeat viewings.
About 24 minCalls it one of his favorite movies and possibly the best comedy of the last decade.
About 1:04Says Black knows how to open a movie and set the tone better than almost anyone.
About 1:04The movie's version of L.A. is described as cool, open, and stylized, full of bars, cars, smog, and sleazy nightlife.
Opening minutesThe film is praised as a classic buddy setup where the two leads balance each other and generate most of the humor.
Opening minutesGosling's willingness to make himself look stupid is framed as a rare and risky move for a major star.
About 8 minThe movie is cynical about corruption but still lets the characters choose the right thing in the end.
About 16 minBlack's opening cold open and recurring bits are treated as signatures of his writing style.
About 1:04The script reportedly began in 2001 and was once considered as a CBS TV series before becoming a 1977-set film.
About 24 minThe movie cost about $50 million and made about $62.8 million worldwide.
About 24 minRussell Crowe said he put on extra weight for Jackson Healy.
About 40 minRobert Downey Jr. appears uncredited as the dead body/corpse cameo.
About 32 minThe movie was inspired by Brett Halliday's Blue Murder.
About 24 minThe younger cast includes a strong child performance from Angourie Rice and a future-star turn from Margaret Qualley.
About 16 minGosling has said Angry Birds hurt the movie's box office in press later on.
About 16 minThe film's 1977 details include gas rationing, smog, and killer bees as topical references.
About 32 minUsed as the closest modern comparison for the film's buddy-comedy chemistry.
Opening minutesReferenced as an example of the kind of 1970s detective vibe the movie evokes.
Opening minutesUsed for a contemporary LA traffic joke and robot-car frustration.
About 8 minCited as another Gosling performance showing a different side of him in the same era.
About 8 minReferenced as part of Gosling's earlier serious/angry run.
About 8 minUsed as Shane Black's signature buddy-action pedigree.
About 16 minMentioned as a Shane Black project and a bridge to Robert Downey Jr.
About 24 minJoked about as the box-office rival that supposedly hurt the film.
About 16 minCited as another effective action-comedy comparison.
About 40 minReferenced as a 1970s-set movie and as an example of retro porn aesthetic.
Opening minutesReferenced through John Boy and the show's popularity in the 1970s.
About 32 minUsed as another Shane Black/Robert Downey Jr. collaboration.
About 32 minReferenced as the main competition to Crowe's peak performance claim.
About 56 minUsed in a side debate about Crowe's career apex.
About 56 minCited in a Keith David aside and corrected during the conversation.
About 56 minThe hosts repeatedly joke that it is 'CR month' and tease Chris Ryan about overexposure.
Opening minutesBill jokes about taunting robot cars and stepping into traffic to make them glitch.
About 8 minThe child at the bike scene repeatedly says he has a big dick, becoming a running joke.
About 24 minThey joke about the villain John Boy being named after The Waltons' John-Boy Walton.
About 40 minThe movie repeatedly mocks Janet/Jessica, and the hosts highlight the recurring joke.
About 32 minThey keep joking that Kim Basinger seems to think she's in LA Confidential again.
About 40 minBill points out a continuity nitpick about Gosling's wet cigarettes after falling into water.
About 56 min“Shut up unless you're me”About 24 min
“You seem to have a very good vantage point”About 24 min
“Because I got a big dick”About 24 min
“We're all going to be driving Japanese cars”About 32 min
“Sometimes you just win”About 1:04
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Three movies to watch before The Nice Guys, and three to watch next.
ON THE MIC
Bill Simmons125 tracked appearances · 56 H / 64 C / 5 ties
Chris Ryan77 tracked appearances · 36 H / 38 C / 3 ties
Rob Mahoney3 tracked appearances · 3 H / 0 CCATEGORY CONTEXT
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