Man, do you remember 2013? It was the year of Frozen, the year everyone was doing the Harlem Shake, and—if you were lucky enough to be at the cinema in August—the year we finally got a Denzel Washington Mark Wahlberg movie.
I’m talking about 2 Guns. Honestly, it’s one of those films that just feels like it was made for a Sunday afternoon on the couch, but it’s actually way smarter than people give it credit for. It’s got that classic "buddy cop" energy, except neither of them actually knows the other is a "cop." Sorta.
The Weird, Convoluted Genius of 2 Guns
Basically, you've got Bobby (Denzel) and Stig (Wahlberg). Bobby is DEA. Stig is Naval Intelligence. The kicker? Neither of them knows the other is undercover. They both think they're robbing a Mexican drug lord’s bank to get the "bad guys," but they end up walking away with $43 million that actually belongs to the CIA.
Oops.
It’s based on a graphic novel by Steven Grant, but it doesn't feel like a "comic book movie." There are no capes. No multiverses. Just two guys with a lot of swagger trying not to get killed by literally every government agency in the United States.
Why the chemistry actually works
A lot of critics at the time—and even some now—called the plot "convoluted." And yeah, it kinda is. You’ve got the Navy, the DEA, the CIA, and Edward James Olmos as a drug kingpin all yelling at each other. But nobody watches a Denzel Washington Mark Wahlberg movie for a tightly wound political manifesto.
✨ Don't miss: Why La Mera Mera Radio is Actually Dominating Local Airwaves Right Now
You watch it for the "riffing."
Denzel is doing his classic Denzel thing: the gold teeth, the wink, the "I'm ten steps ahead of you" grin. Then you have Wahlberg, who is basically playing a hyperactive puppy with a sniper rifle. He’s the "Stig," and he’s constantly winking at people and eating donuts while bullets are flying.
Mark Wahlberg actually said in an interview with Screen Rant that he was surprised by how much Denzel was willing to improvise. They weren't just following a script; they were genuinely trying to mess with each other. That scene where Denzel stuffs a gun in a guy’s crotch? That was just them playing around on set.
The "Forgotten" Action Classic
The film made about $132 million worldwide against a $61 million budget. It was a hit, but not a massive one. It didn't launch a franchise. There’s no 3 Guns (though fans have been asking for it for years).
But here’s the thing: it’s arguably the last of a dying breed.
🔗 Read more: Why Love Island Season 7 Episode 23 Still Feels Like a Fever Dream
Most action movies now are $200 million spectacles that rely on green screens. 2 Guns was shot mostly on location in New Mexico and Louisiana. When you see a bank explode or a car flip in this movie, it feels heavy. It feels real. Director Baltasar Kormákur—who also worked with Wahlberg on Contraband—has this "down and dirty" style that makes the violence feel a bit more adult. It’s rated R for a reason.
The Bill Paxton Factor
We have to talk about Bill Paxton. Rest in peace to a legend. He plays Earl, a CIA "cleaner" who is just terrifying. He spends half the movie playing Russian roulette with people's heads while wearing a cowboy hat. It’s one of his most underrated "villain" turns. Between him and Edward James Olmos, the "bad guys" in this movie are actually worth rooting against.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often group 2 Guns with generic action movies like The Expendables or something. That's a mistake.
It’s actually a neo-noir western in disguise.
The desert landscapes, the cynical view of government agencies, and the fact that Bobby and Stig aren't really "good guys"—they're just the least bad guys—makes it feel more like a 70s heist flick than a modern blockbuster.
💡 You might also like: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
Denzel's character, Bobby Trench, is a guy who’s been undercover so long he’s basically forgotten how to be a real agent. He’s cynical. He’s tired. Contrast that with Wahlberg’s Stig, who still believes in the "code" of the Navy until the Navy tries to kill him. It’s a great dynamic.
How to Watch it Today
If you haven't seen it in a while, it’s usually floating around on Peacock or Netflix. It holds up surprisingly well. The humor isn't as dated as other 2013 comedies, and the action sequences are still punchy.
If you want to dive deeper into the world of this Denzel Washington Mark Wahlberg movie, check out these bits of trivia:
- Denzel actually wore a set of gold caps on his teeth to give Bobby Trench that "career criminal" look.
- The bank they rob in the movie? That was a real building in Amite City, Louisiana.
- They actually used real bulls in that one torture scene (you know the one). Denzel famously said the bulls "didn't give a ****" that they were making a movie.
Your Next Steps:
Skip the trailers for the next big CGI slugfest this weekend. Instead, go back and re-watch 2 Guns. Pay attention to the background details in the Mexican border scenes—the production design is actually incredibly detailed. Once you're done, look up the original Boom! Studios graphic novel. It’s a much darker, grittier version of the story that makes you appreciate the humor Denzel and Mark brought to the big screen even more.