If bullets are flying and buildings are exploding, then detectives Dan Stark (Bradley Whitford) and Jack Bailey (Colin Hanks) are on the case.

In the Dallas Police Department as portrayed in "The Good Guys," there is an odd mixture of old school charm and modern day tech. Like so much else in our world, while the younger generation has eagerly embraced the new gizmos and gadgets, the older generation is a bit overwhelmed by it. So in Fox's new dramedy cop series, we see this tug-of-war between the generations reverberate loudly.

"The Good Guys" is not sure whether it is a comedy or a drama and, for the most part, the comedy elements win as the stories it portrays are so ludicrous that surely it is meant to invoke laughter rather than tears.

Bradley Whitford portrays the outlandish and outrageous Detective Dan Stark who acts like something right out of a 1970s detective show. His generous mustache and loud clothing are the viewers' first clues. Then when he speaks you are certain he has been transported 40 years into the future through some time capsule which the police department dug up just so by-the-book Detective Jack Bailey would have a seasoned partner.

The casting of Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks is truly what makes this show a success. Finally shedding his buttoned-up image from "The West Wing," watching Bradley Whitford zealously portray the most absurd cop on the force is refreshing -- though a bit over the top at times. Likewise, watching Colin Hanks step out of his earlier teenage geek pin-up roles and done the cloak of a more sophisticated adult character is delightful.

In the show, Detective Dan Stark is the outdated cop who does not want to change his ways to fit into the new world of technology and rigid protocols. Despite his refusal to modernize and adapt, his instincts remain fine-tuned and he does not hesitate to rush head-long after the crooks that dare to cross his radar.

In contrast, his partner Detective Jack Bailey is all about using all the advances available to him and making sure that any arrest comports with the rules so that once they catch the bad guy, they can prosecute him. But for Jack, it is not simply about obeying the rules; it is about impressing his ex-girlfriend Liz Traynor (Jenny Wade), a local district attorney. The more criminals he can hand over on a silver platter, the more attention she lavishes on him. It is a desperate attempt to woo back the girl of his dreams before she marries another man.

In the few episodes shown to date, we have seen Dan Stark and Jack Bailey land in all sorts of bizarre situations simply by investigating the minor incident cases handed over to them by their watchful Lt. Ana Ruiz (Diana Maria Riva).

But, as Jack and Dan frequently find, minor crimes tend to lead to major crimes in a hurry because criminals do not limit themselves to just dealing drugs, stealing cars, trafficking stolen weapons, and murder. Criminals tend to think if they are going to commit one crime, they might as well break as many other laws as they can along the way. In for a penny, in for a pound, so to speak.

As seen in the pilot episode, while investigating a stolen humidifier, our heroes inadvertently stumbled across a vicious cartel of drug dealers. Then in the second episode, "Bait & Switch," a rock thrown through a window leads to a car theft ring. In "Broken Door Theory," the vandalism of a candy vending machine inspires them to take down a prostitution ring. In "The Dim Knight," a poisoned dog leads to the capture of a violent vigilante. And in "$3.52," a drug dealer gets off on a technicality and Dan bets he can catch the crook again for $3.52.

While set in the realm of the ludicrous, it is still fascinating to watch how all these small events unravel a larger crime in progress each and every time. No matter how small the crime, some criminals think they are going to get away and yet it is this pattern of criminal behavior that trips them up every time.

That being said, "The Good Guys" is a fun, breezy show that invites you along for a hell of a ride. It is not for the faint of heart as Detective Dan Stark is an acquired taste with his shockingly inappropriate sexual innuendos and clueless social behavior. But every now and then, we get a glimpse of a warm-hearted cop who believes in a macho form of chivalry and who has his partner's back when it counts. Driving his 1979 Pontiac Trans Am, Dan thinks he is the epitome of cool and no one is going to persuade him otherwise since he always gets the bad guys in the end.

Even his partner, Jack, begrudgingly admits that Dan has their best interests at heart and gets the job done. Jack just wishes it were done with less flying bullets and explosions. But as his ex-girlfriend Liz seems to appreciate all the major busts that land on her desk as a result of their haphazard and unexpectedly fruitful investigations, Jack is only too willing to participate in Dan's crazy investigative tactics.

"The Good Guys" is not the easiest show to love, but like a mutt dog that drools on your clothes and chews your shoes, he is your best friend and you will fall in love with him because he chases off the unwanted peeping-toms and greets you with a happy howl each night when you return home.

Just remember that once you get past the initial feeling of "what the hell is this" -- the show slowly hooks you with its humor, heart and ability to transcend into a surprisingly fun and cool cop show.

"The Good Guys" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox, and will follow "Human Target" this fall on Fridays on Fox. Find out what everyone's talking about!