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The Guard
The Guard Image
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Metascore
78 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 65 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: The Guard is a comedic, fish-out-of-water tale of murder, blackmail, drug trafficking and rural police corruption, and the two cops who must join forces to take on an international drug-smuggling gang, an unorthodox Irish policeman and a straitlaced FBI agent.(Sony Picture Classics)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Roger Moore
    Aug 20, 2011
    100
    The Guard soars along on a script, like those by the other McDonagh (Martin wrote and directed "In Bruges" and the Oscar winning short "Six Shooter," both starring Gleeson) built out of verbal flourishes and Irish curses.
  2. Empire
    Reviewed by: Kim Newman
    Aug 1, 2011
    100
    Among the most purely entertaining films of the year, which cuts its laughter with a dose of Celtic melancholy. It still delivers cop/action requirements - shoot-outs, revenges, daring deeds - and chances are, we'll be quoting lines from this forever.
  3. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    Jul 29, 2011
    60
    McDonagh indulges in too many '90s affectations, from blaring chapter titles to philosophizing gangsters. But he captures his misty setting's insular atmosphere beautifully.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 25
  3. Negative: 4 out of 25
  1. BHBarry
    10
    “The Guard” is an interesting comedy-drama starring Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. Written and directed by John Michael McDonagh (“In Bruges”), he attains a level of subtlety in the humor that pervades the film and especially in the chemistry and communications between Messrs. Gleeson and Cheadle. Located and filmed in the County of Galway in Ireland, this film will make you laugh since the characters and story do not take themselves too seriously. Nevertheless you are able to view a thriller with as much action as you might find in any non-comedic movie but with the added attraction of these two male stars who draw you into their escapades with vigor and interest. I give the film 3 stars and applaud the efforts of all involved. I had a good time watching it.… Expand
    • 2 of 3 users said yes
  2. StPaul1
    5
    Considering the generally glowing reviews, the movie was a disappointment. The title character, played by Brendon Gleeson, seems contrived. He is sort of a mass of contradictions thrown together in desperate hopes that a quirky protagonist will emerge. He is secretly brilliant and highly competent, but casually drops acid found at a crime scene, consorts with hookers, ignores basic rules of police procedure, and "hilariously" slings racial stereotypes at a stiff Don Cheadle (isn't he aware the rat pack was doing this 40+ years ago, and it wasn't all that funny back then?) . Speaking of Cheadle, after emerging as one of the most interesting young film actors of the '90s, this film is something of a low point for him. He's supposed to be the stuffed shirt to Gleeson's loose cannon, but he just doesn't connect. This is just another inter-racial buddy cop movie, this time with a sometimes unintelligle Irish accent.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  3. JamesL
    2
    I had expectations for this film but it is a flop. There is nothing funny or entertaining here. The film seemed like a bunch of outtakes picked off the cutting floor and stitched together. The humor was painful particularly the racial shots. How this got a high rating amazes me. I knew "Tree of Life" would bore me but this was even worse. Cheadle and Gleeson should hide their heads in shame. Eveything sucked in this film. THE SCRIPT, THE PLOT, THE JOKES,THE ACTING,! DREADFUL!… Expand
    • 1 of 2 users said yes

See all 25 User Reviews

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