But thats the kind of onscreen magicDead Men Dont Wear Plaidbrings to the table.
The 1982 cult favorite may look like it at first glance, but it isnt your run-of-the-millneo-noir.
Rather, the film offers a chaotic yet rhythmic mashup that flips the hard-boiled detective genre on its head.
Image by Zanda Rice
But the selling point here is that half his co-stars are straight out of classic noir films.
The result is a cohesive, and dare we say, comically absurd collision of eras.
Its the kind of film where a tough-guy detective might suddenly get thrown off balance by Martins signature silliness.
Image via Universal Pictures
Even better, it comes complete with inside jokes, stellar editing, and oodles of charm.
Theres also a memorable scene fromDouble Indemnitywith Barbara Stanwyck.
Her serious, femme fatale intensity transforms into comedy gold when placed alongside Rigbys contagious charm and offbeat humor.
By combining Martins playful antics with the dramatic weight of classic noir, the movie creates something totally fresh.
In that regard, Rigby Reardon shakes things up a bit and delivers some laughs while hes at it.
But unlike the Bogarts and Mitchums of the past, hes flawed beyond reason and its hilarious.
Then theres his over-the-top machismo.
Its safe to say that his all-around demeanor undercuts the usual swagger expected of an old-timey detective.
Noir with a twist!
Its not just comedy gold, it also portrays Martins penchant for finding humor in the most simple things.
However, Martins portrayal isntjust a parody, its equally a love letter to noir.
At the end of the day, it makes the noir detective both ridiculous and endearing.
