Cop Out (D- or .5/4 stars)
I've enjoyed some of Kevin Smith's movies in the past. I think he's funny. And he writes great material. But his latest directorial effort, 'Cop Out', is a film that he did not write ... and boy, can you tell. This film (once titled 'A Couple of Dicks' - much better title) pairs NYPD detectives Jimmy Monroe & Paul Hodges (Bruce Willis, Tracey Morgan). These guys have been together for 9 yrs. And when a bust goes terribly wrong (leaving their informant dead), Jimmy & Paul are given a 1-month suspension without pay! But this doesn't stop them from badgering the 'dicks' who inherit their case (played by the loathsome Adam Brody & Kevin Pollack) or continuing said investigation on their own free time.
And for movie plot purposes, no one seems to think or care that 2 suspended cops are running around like complete idiots; arresting suspects, rescuing hostages, & getting mixed-up in shoot-outs. Throughout all of this, Jimmy is upset that a rare, mint-condition baseball card is stolen; as he'd hoped to pay for his daughter's upcoming wedding with its exchange for $$. He'd like Paul to help him track down the merciless thief, Poh Boy (Guillermo Diaz). And as for Paul, he is preoccupied with his wife's (Rashida Jones, ugh) supposed infidelity. Can he keep his wits about him to help Jimmy get their card back ... alive? Well, let me tell ya, the 'madcap' conclusion of the film - like most of the ill-conceived action scenes - is as dull as dish water.
Again, one can tell that Kevin Smith did not write this screenplay, because it SUCKS. Firstly, how many times have we seen the straight-laced white cop & his wisecrackin' black partner do the comedy/action buddy cop thing? Um, a lot. OK, fine; then do something unique with it. -- Nope. Kevin Smith is known for his profanity, gross-out humor, & sex talk (but always used in funny ways). I don't think he's a bad director. But he doesn't do anything special behind the camera, & he couldn't transcend the atrocious writing. Let's talk about the comedy for a moment; or the lack of it. Almost everything falls flat {cricket, cricket moments). I basically found one stretch of dialogue to be funny - & it occurs in the 1st 10 min. of the film ...
See, Paul pays homage to other films by re-enacting/quoting dialogue from them to suspects under interrogation. At one point Paul even says to Jimmy (Willis), 'yippie kay-yay motherfu*&er', to which, Jimmy says, 'never seen the movie'. I laughed. It's one of the few moments of parody that shine through. The rest ... forget it. 'Cop Out' is barely a movie; just a string of unfunny, poorly acted, misguided action set pieces. And little attention is given to sensible plot progression/continuity. I just can't abide that. My head spins with anger over it. Furthermore, any dramatic moments late in the proceedings fall flat. I mean, why have the film go from lamebrain, profane, gross-out comedy - to - a sincere wedding scene; and then expect audiences to take that seriously? Pathetic.
Bruce Willis can play the 'straight-guy in manic comedy' very well. But aside from looking pretty badass for his age, he brings very little, here. Tracey Morgan can be very funny; I've seen it. But he's deplorably unfunny this time 'round; even aggravating (archaic self-deprecating black jokes, motor-mouthy, constant mugging, etc.). Sean William Scott is a non-entity as Dave, a thief who helps Paul & Jimmy. Overall, a few bright spots early on are completely negated by the garbage that follows. The comic thriller genre has been stale for a while (particularly involving the identical-to-preceding-film plots -- Mexican gangs? Really?). And in the middle of this film I thought to myself, 'This is a movie for 17 yr. old degenerates'. That's this movie in one sentence.
And for movie plot purposes, no one seems to think or care that 2 suspended cops are running around like complete idiots; arresting suspects, rescuing hostages, & getting mixed-up in shoot-outs. Throughout all of this, Jimmy is upset that a rare, mint-condition baseball card is stolen; as he'd hoped to pay for his daughter's upcoming wedding with its exchange for $$. He'd like Paul to help him track down the merciless thief, Poh Boy (Guillermo Diaz). And as for Paul, he is preoccupied with his wife's (Rashida Jones, ugh) supposed infidelity. Can he keep his wits about him to help Jimmy get their card back ... alive? Well, let me tell ya, the 'madcap' conclusion of the film - like most of the ill-conceived action scenes - is as dull as dish water.
Again, one can tell that Kevin Smith did not write this screenplay, because it SUCKS. Firstly, how many times have we seen the straight-laced white cop & his wisecrackin' black partner do the comedy/action buddy cop thing? Um, a lot. OK, fine; then do something unique with it. -- Nope. Kevin Smith is known for his profanity, gross-out humor, & sex talk (but always used in funny ways). I don't think he's a bad director. But he doesn't do anything special behind the camera, & he couldn't transcend the atrocious writing. Let's talk about the comedy for a moment; or the lack of it. Almost everything falls flat {cricket, cricket moments). I basically found one stretch of dialogue to be funny - & it occurs in the 1st 10 min. of the film ...
See, Paul pays homage to other films by re-enacting/quoting dialogue from them to suspects under interrogation. At one point Paul even says to Jimmy (Willis), 'yippie kay-yay motherfu*&er', to which, Jimmy says, 'never seen the movie'. I laughed. It's one of the few moments of parody that shine through. The rest ... forget it. 'Cop Out' is barely a movie; just a string of unfunny, poorly acted, misguided action set pieces. And little attention is given to sensible plot progression/continuity. I just can't abide that. My head spins with anger over it. Furthermore, any dramatic moments late in the proceedings fall flat. I mean, why have the film go from lamebrain, profane, gross-out comedy - to - a sincere wedding scene; and then expect audiences to take that seriously? Pathetic.
Bruce Willis can play the 'straight-guy in manic comedy' very well. But aside from looking pretty badass for his age, he brings very little, here. Tracey Morgan can be very funny; I've seen it. But he's deplorably unfunny this time 'round; even aggravating (archaic self-deprecating black jokes, motor-mouthy, constant mugging, etc.). Sean William Scott is a non-entity as Dave, a thief who helps Paul & Jimmy. Overall, a few bright spots early on are completely negated by the garbage that follows. The comic thriller genre has been stale for a while (particularly involving the identical-to-preceding-film plots -- Mexican gangs? Really?). And in the middle of this film I thought to myself, 'This is a movie for 17 yr. old degenerates'. That's this movie in one sentence.