Cop Out

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Marking the first time that potty-mouthed writer/director Kevin Smith has helmed a script that he hasn't penned himself, Cop Out, a flat, forceful buddy movie, at least has angle it wants to push. Smith uses the word 'homage' about twenty times in the opening half hour, then has some horrible 80s synth music play over every second scene. Beverly Hills Cop, and countless other cop movies from the decade of spandex are almost parodied here; to mostly lethargic effect. This is easily Smith's worst film, and ends an amusing two-film streak when he returned to Clerks for its hilarious sequel, and offered up amusement aplenty with Zack and Miri Make A Porno.

Bruce Willis and Tracey Morgan are two mildly ridiculous cops, who have just been suspended for having a suspect killed. But they've both got their own personal problems too; Morgan reckons his missus is banging the neighbour, and Willis is struggling to pay for his daughters inordinately priced wedding, before Jason Lee's smug stepfather can steal his thunder. Looking to flog his prized possession, a rare baseball card, he's robbed in the store, just as he's about to seal a deal. The two detectives then spend the rest of the film getting in innumerable scrapes attempting to retrieve it.

Firstly the script was never there to begin with; but there are other elements here that contributed to Cop Out's failure as both a comedy, and a light action film. Bruce Willis really looks like he doesn't give a shit anymore, and is now evidently unwilling to play anyone other than a variation of Bruce Willis. But Smith's direction fails to elevate any of the comedy, and a tireless Tracey Morgan is often the one left holding the bag, almost bursting a blood vessel in a continuous attempt to pillage laughs. Bottom line, the 30 Rock star never really had the content to begin with, and he and Willis are an awkward pairing - not in a funny way.

I have genuinely seen something to like in all of Smith's films so far (yes, even Jersey Girl), but Cop Out may just be him acting too far outside of his comfort zone. He's throwing everything at the audience here to get a laugh, even bringing in the likes of Seann William Scott, Kevin Pollack and Adam Brody - guys who are all very funny when given the right guidance. Yet the laugh quota remains at a minimum and that's a damn shame, because there are enough funny people here to make a killer comedy.

A couple of chuckles aside, this is a flat production that even hardcore Smith fans will have trouble justifying adding to their DVD collections.