Cop Out

Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Guillermo Diaz, Ana De La Reguera and Kevin Pollak
Releasing in cinemas: 18 March 2010
Rated: MA 15+

Mister Die Hard, where are you?

Here’s a world-weary Bruce Willis sleepwalking his way through this action thriller from the Kevin Smith stable. It’s not lifted by the presence of motor-mouth Tracey Morgan rabbiting on in the tradition of Eddie Murphy in Beverley Hills Cop. This teaming up suggests the Lethal Weapon combination, but it falls flat on its face with few laugh-charged lines and limp material between. Fortunately, even in comatose state, Willis has enough charisma to engage his aging but loyal fans.

On the ninth anniversary of being partners, NYPD cops Jimmy (Bruce Willis) and Paul (Tracy Morgan) become involved with homicidal Mexican drug boss Poh Boy (Guillermo Diaz). It comes about when, in a shop robbery, the wacky Dave (Seann William Scott) unwittingly steals Jimmy’s valuable baseball card, which Jimmy had hoped to sell to pay for his daughter’s wedding. The card ends up with avid collector of such artifacts, the most evil Mr. Poh Boy. Jimmy and Paul have to try and retrieve it in time for the wedding despite being suspended by their exasperated chief.

The pair are frustrated in their efforts by the bumbling Narcotics men Hunsaker (Kevin Pollak) and Mangold (Adam Brady), then confused by the appearance of kidnapped Mexican hot wired babe Gabriela (Ana De La Reguera) in the boot of a stolen Mercedes. All this is interspersed with predictable car chases and shootouts, while Poh Boy (in full sadistic mode) sharpens up his baseball skills on those unlucky enough to fall into his clutches.

Although seemingly a homage to those old cop buddy shows, it lacks their zest. Kevin Smith, director of Zack and Miri Make a Porno and Clerks sets an uneven pace and really funny gags are limited. The competent car chase scenes help spark up interest.

You’ll either like or hate the blabbering Tracy Morgan of TV’s 30 Rock, and some of his rapid-fire dialogue passed me by. He takes the comic high ground while poor Bruce Willis (Surrogates) is left doing the straight guy. Willis seems here unable to recoup his past Die Hard action glories - a shame because once he was ‘the man.’

The brighter moments actually come from the supporting cast including Seann William Scott (Role Models) doing a Joe Pesci in the back seat of a car. Unfortunately his mimicking routine is taken to extremes and dampens the joke. An amiable if rather vacant Kevin Pollak (Middle Men) might have just escaped from an episode of CSI. Ana De La Reguera puts on a fiery turn as the curvaceous kidnapped senorita with more enthusiasm than most of the cast. Guillermo Diaz appears to relish adding new meaning to psycho baseball.

The script by Robb and Mark Cullen provides such lines as “Let’s go and be great” and at least one truism - “Reality TV is the bowels of Hollywood.” Strong language in the dialogue serves no great purpose. Pop music pounds along, even bringing back the perennial ‘The Dueling Banjos’. Pity, because the tune makes you realize what a masterpiece Deliverance was in comparison to this uninspired action flick.

John Bale