--- title: "The Guard" year: 2011 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-guard" fi1m_score: 78 critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 21 published: "2026-09-17T07:36:56.399448+00:00" updated: "2026-09-17T07:36:56.855254+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Guard (2011) Directed by John Michael McDonagh · 1h 36m · MPA R · Action, Comedy, Thriller, Crime **Fi1m score: 78** · Critics 77 from 21 reviews *In a sentence:* Brendan Gleeson makes obstructing an FBI investigation look like a reasonable use of public money > Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle make this rude police comedy worth the detours. John Michael McDonagh gives them sharp exchanges, though the investigation needs more urgency and the partnership could be more equal. ## Synopsis Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) polices Ireland’s west coast, where Garda Aidan McBride (Rory Keenan) is a fellow officer. Boyle wants to do the job on his own terms, but a drug-trafficking investigation pairs him with FBI agent Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle). Everett expects professional cooperation; Boyle responds with provocation and apparent indifference to procedure. As the American tries to get on with the case, he must also work out how seriously to take his partner. The investigation brings American policing into a small Irish community whose habits give Everett little help. ## Review *The Guard* is a funny, uneven police comedy that gives its leading actor ample room and its investigation rather less attention. John Michael McDonagh writes and directs a mismatched partnership between a contrary Irish sergeant and an FBI agent, with Brendan Gleeson doing most of the provoking and Don Cheadle most of the absorbing. We recommend it for those exchanges, with a warning about the slack crime story. At 96 minutes, it still finds time to dawdle. Brendan Gleeson makes Sergeant Gerry Boyle difficult to settle on. His rudeness can look calculated, his lack of interest can seem sincere, and then a small shift in his attention makes us reconsider both. There is pleasure in watching an actor keep a comic character this uncertain without making him vague. We laughed hardest at Boyle needling Everett, because Brendan Gleeson refuses to advertise where the joke is supposed to land. His composure gives Don Cheadle something solid to push against. Don Cheadle deserves more credit than the quieter role initially suggests. FBI agent Wendell Everett has to listen, assess and decide whether taking offence would merely prolong the conversation. Don Cheadle makes that work visible without turning every response into a performance of wounded dignity. The limitation belongs to John Michael McDonagh’s script: Everett is too often required to receive the joke, and gets fewer chances to surprise us. The partnership remains funny, but its imbalance becomes noticeable as the film goes on. Larry Smith’s cinematography gives the film bright colour rather than the dutiful murk that so often passes for seriousness in crime stories. That brightness suits a comedy which does not need every encounter to look threatening. John Paul Kelly’s production design makes the small-town surroundings feel ordinary and inhabited, helping Boyle seem established there rather than dropped into a convenient location. The American’s unfamiliarity with the place matters, and the film is good at showing how little professional confidence helps when the people around him decline to cooperate. Chris Gill’s editing is most effective within the conversations, allowing irritation to register before the next remark arrives. The larger rhythm is less secure, and some stretches feel like a wait for another good line rather than progress through an investigation. Calexico’s music supplies a swagger the crime story does not always earn, though its liveliness is welcome. The dialogue is entertaining enough that these pauses rarely become tiresome, but a stronger sense of pressure would have made the interruptions funnier. As a buddy-cop film, *The Guard* understands how much comedy comes from its partners disagreeing about how seriously to take each other. John Michael McDonagh is less successful at making the case feel necessary, and anyone waiting for it to become as interesting as Boyle may get impatient. What keeps us with Boyle is Brendan Gleeson’s suggestion that there is more going on than a wish to annoy. We would happily spend another evening with him, though we would hesitate to report a burglary. *Fi1m score 78, published 17 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics welcome The Guard as a sharp, profane buddy-cop comedy, with praise concentrated on Brendan Gleeson’s performance as the contrary Sergeant Gerry Boyle. The reviews find him funny, unpredictable and sufficiently human to keep the character from becoming a collection of outrageous remarks. His chemistry with Don Cheadle is another recurring pleasure, alongside the screenplay’s barbed dialogue, small-town observations and sly handling of Irish identity. Familiar police-film conventions give the humour something useful to push against. The differences concern how much the storytelling matters beside that central performance. Several favourable reviews acknowledge a thin crime plot or sluggish momentum without finding either fatal. Time Out is less forgiving of the wandering plot, surplus characters and uneven direction, while Digital Spy wants greater character depth. The spread remains largely positive rather than polarised: even the two mixed reviews find substantial pleasure in the performances and humour. ### Reviews we read (21) - **Empire**, Kim Newman (90/100, inferred): The critic praises this shaggy-dog cop comedy as one of the year's most entertaining films, highlighting Brendan Gleeson's commanding lead performance as the irreverent Garda sergeant and the script's sharp, unconventional characters and dialogue. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/guard-review/) - **Evening Standard** (90/100, inferred): The review lauds Brendan Gleeson's star turn as the contrarian Irish policeman and commends the witty screenplay for its ironic take on Irish identity and its entertaining odd-couple dynamic with the FBI agent. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-guard-review-7426329.html) - **Vulture** (85/100, inferred): The critic finds it dirty, bloody fun that is well-acted, explosively funny, and tightly executed, with a brilliant performance by Brendan Gleeson as the profane, black-humored sergeant. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2011/07/movie_review_the_guard_is_a_do.html) - **Little White Lies**, Zara Joan Miller (3/4/4): The critic highlights the swaggering, memorable creation of Sergeant Gerry Boyle as an unorthodox antihero in a high-octane clash of American cop tropes and Irish small-town life. It delivers plenty of laughs through sharp dialogue and cultural pastiche, marking it as one of the funniest action comedies in some time. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-guard) - **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (80/100, inferred): The critic praises Brendan Gleeson’s charismatic performance as the irreverent Irish cop paired with Don Cheadle’s FBI agent in this buddy comedy. He highlights the film’s sly Irish humor, local color, and satisfying climactic shootout as making it a pleasure despite familiar formulas. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-guard-2011) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Todd McCarthy (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it a scabrous, profane, violent, verbally adroit and very often hilarious variation on the buddy-cop format, capped by Brendan Gleeson's protean performance as an iconoclastic Irish policeman. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/guard-sundance-review-74469/) - **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (B): The film tweaks buddy-cop and fish-out-of-water expectations through Gleeson’s enigmatic, funny, and unnerving performance as a corrupt yet oddly effective cop; it lacks momentum but rightly centers on him. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-guard-1798169113) - **Slant Magazine** (75/100, inferred): McDonagh’s script self-reflexively tweaks cop and crime film conventions with shrewd wit and subversive humor while giving the caricature-like Boyle enough humanity; the film is ultimately Gleeson’s show as a hilarious comedic creation. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-guard/) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (75/100, inferred): The review finds the mismatched-partners comedy entertaining thanks to the lead actors’ chemistry and the film’s bright visuals and off-color jokes. It notes that the thin crime plot serves mainly as a vehicle for the performers and Irish setting. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/29/movies/the-guard-starring-brendan-gleeson-and-don-cheadle-review.html) - **IndieWire**, Gabe Toro (70/100, inferred): The review positions the film as Ireland’s acidic answer to the buddy cop formula, highlighting its vulgar humor and Brendan Gleeson’s central performance. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/news/general/review-the-guard-is-irelands-acidic-answer-to-the-buddy-cop-formula-117236/) - **Screen Daily** (70/100, inferred): The critic praises the quirky rebel cop at the heart of this odd-couple buddy film and Brendan Gleeson’s delightful performance in the black comedy. McDonagh’s witty script and deft casting make it likely to win over English-speaking audiences, though the FBI agent character is somewhat boilerplate. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/the-guard/5022606.article) - **The Guardian**, Steve Rose (70/100, inferred): The brother of In Bruges director Martin McDonagh delivers another nicely eccentric crime comedy that is almost as enjoyable, if less coherent. Gleeson is on fine form as an unorthodox garda paired with Don Cheadle's flummoxed FBI man, with the film offering a sly take on Ireland's insularity and Americanisation. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/aug/18/the-guard-review) - **Variety**, Justin Chang (70/100, inferred): The critic calls Brendan Gleeson’s crusty performance the main asset in this otherwise routine crime saga about drug trafficking and police corruption. He praises the rudely funny tone, atmospheric Irish west-coast backdrop, and stylish lark quality of the directorial debut. [Read](https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117944335) - **Time Out**, Tom Huddleston (3/5): The critic celebrates the unforgettable central character of Garda Sergeant Gerry Boyle and Brendan Gleeson’s towering performance, along with the script’s memorable one-liners and observations on small-town life. However, the film is let down by a wandering plot, too many side characters, and direction that fails to fully cohere into a satisfying whole. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-guard-1) - **/Film**, Germain Lussier (9/10): The critic calls it one of the best films at Sundance, praising the award-worthy screenplay, hilarious banter, memorable characters and Gleeson-Cheadle chemistry as making it funnier than Hot Fuzz or In Bruges. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/513523/guard-hot-fuzz-bruges-equals-funnier-sundance-review/) - **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (85/100, inferred): The critic highlights the film's exploitation of contrasts for deadpan humour and absurdist set-ups, calling it a little gem that spins a mismatched buddy-cop tale to blisteringly funny effect with excellent dialogue and camerawork. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-guard-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) - **Collider**, Matt Goldberg (B+): The critic calls the film a fun mash-up of fish-out-of-water and buddy-cop comedies with sharp dialogue and energetic direction, but notes the plot relies too heavily on coincidence. The standout is Brendan Gleeson's brilliant, nuanced performance as the contradictory Sergeant Gerry Boyle. [Read](https://collider.com/the-guard-review/) - **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (4/5): The critic calls it one of the funniest and most intelligent deconstruction of the buddy cop thriller, praising Gleeson's brilliant performance and McDonagh's witty script. It lacks some narrative drive compared to In Bruges but delivers great chemistry and laughs. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-guard-review/) - **HeyUGuys**, Jamie Neish (4/5): The critic praises the profane humour, one-liners, distinctive characters and strong performances, especially Gleeson, while noting the script's self-awareness and social commentary. Minor complaints include an inconclusive third act and underexplored villain dynamics. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/eiff-2011-the-guard-review/) - **The Playlist**, The Playlist Staff (80/100, inferred): The review positions the film as Ireland’s acidic answer to the buddy-cop formula, celebrating its sharp, profane script and performances. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/review-the-guard-is-irelands-acidic-answer-to-the-buddy-cop-formula-20110727/) - **Digital Spy**, Stella Papamichael (3/5): The review sees it as a likeable genre-mashing caper with strong chemistry between Gleeson and Cheadle and sharp gallows humour. It notes the film does not delve as deeply into characters as the director's brother's work but remains affectionate and entertaining. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a331531/the-guard-review/) ## Details - **Director:** John Michael McDonagh - **Director:** John Michael McDonagh - **Writer:** John Michael McDonagh - **Cinematography:** Larry Smith - **Editor:** Chris Gill - **Music:** Joey Burns, John Convertino, Calexico - **Production design:** John Paul Kelly - **Costume design:** Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh - **Producer:** Flora Fernandez Marengo, Chris Clark, Andrew Lowe - **Cast:** Brendan Gleeson as Sergeant Gerry Boyle; Don Cheadle as FBI agent Wendell Everett; Liam Cunningham as Francis Sheehy; Mark Strong as Clive Cornell; Katarina Čas as Gabriela McBride; David Wilmot as Liam O'Leary; Rory Keenan as Garda Aidan McBride; Laurence Kinlan as Photographer - **Runtime:** 1h 36m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 29 July 2011 - **Genres:** Action, Comedy, Thriller, Crime - **Budget:** $6 million - **Box office:** $20 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJxBKglv2zw ## Where to watch in the US - The Roku Channel: free, hd, leaving 2026-10-01 - Amazon Prime Video: add-on - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $12.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $12.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-17.* Also available in: AR, AT, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, DE, ES, FR, GB, IE, IT, MX, PA, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Hot Fuzz* (2007), Fi1m 84: Small-town policing and mismatched partners, with a more carefully assembled crime plot. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/hot-fuzz.md) - *Memories of Murder* (2003): Another provincial police investigation, though its humour comes with a much harsher edge. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/memories-of-murder.md) - *In Bruges* (2008), Fi1m 83: For abrasive conversation, guilty men and comic timing that permits real sadness. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/in-bruges.md) - *In the Heat of the Night* (1967): A less forgiving treatment of policing, prejudice and an unwelcome outsider. - *Le Havre* (2011): Local loyalties and dry humour, with considerably more kindness towards strangers. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-guard