Holland March (Ryan Gosling) has a more legitimate business as a Private Investigator tracking people down for money but he's scarcely any more moral. March has been hired to look for the famous porn actress Misty Mountains, despite her dying very publicly a few days earlier in a car crash. Her aunt is convinced she's seen her since.
March's investigation has lead him to a young woman called Amelia (Margaret Qualley) but Healey has been paid by her to frighten March off.
Shenanigans ensue.
This action buddy comedy revels in its 70s setting on the fringes of the porn industry with more nudity and weirdness than I expected.
It zips from scene to scene haphazardly, especially early on but believe it or not is carried by Russell Crowe's performance as a smarter than he looks thug while Gosling's PI is absurdly hapless. The pair are obviously having a great time and once you chuck in Angourie Rice as March's sassy teen daughter it's a great mix.
The actual plot is moderately complex and surprising in places and they really get loads done.
Tonally it's bonkers. There's Gosling being a useless drunk, Crowe beating the crap out of people, porn stars dressed as mermaids, terrible fashion, industrial espionage, sweary 70s kids, environmental protesters and a hit man called John Boy who kicks off a load of references to The Waltons.
Did I laugh? Quite a lot. Did I cringe? Quite a lot.
Worth catching if it shows up in your feed 7/10. Was this the last time Russell Crowe was truly good in something? Maybe.