Mark Wahlberg makes his comic mark

Over the past two decades, Mark Wahlberg has established himself as a tough guy, first as a rapper with a rap sheet, then as an action star in films like "Three Kings," "The Perfect Storm," "The Yards" and "We Own the Night," not to mention his Oscar-nominated turn as a mercurial police sergeant in "The Departed."

He had a cameo in "Date Night" and has hosted "Saturday Night Live" - but before "The Other Guys," Wahlberg had never done a full-blown comedy.

The 39-year-old had been looking to do a comedy. He figured he'd be in good hands with Will Ferrell and writer-director Adam McKay, who met on "SNL" and collaborated on "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and "Step Brothers."

"They invited me to dinner and said they wanted to do a movie," recalls Wahlberg. "I was like, 'You got to be kidding me,' and I said, 'I'll do whatever you want.' "

McKay says Wahlberg, for all his outward fearsomeness, is actually quite funny. "He's got great instincts with the character," McKay says. "When he starts pulling it toward the comedy, it's just a pleasure to watch."