Cop Out

Plot synopsis:
The movie opens with Jimmy (Bruce Willis) and Paul (Tracy Morgan) in the interrogation room, working on a suspected drug dealer. Paul convinces Jimmy to let him try the interrogation this time and the crazy scene with all the movie quotes from the trailer ensues. They get the guy to rat out his supplier, so the next scene is at the guy's cell phone store, where Paul works as a sales person on the street with a cell phone costume on. He's casing the place, waiting for the supplier to show up so he can bust him, but when he does, the informant accidentally tips off the supplier who shoots him and splits out the back door. Paul chases him in the cell phone costume and eventually beats up a kid and steals his bike to chase the supplier. This is taped and put on YouTube, and when they don't catch the guy both cops are suspended without pay.Next, we see Jimmy and his ex-wife, daughter, and the ex-wife's new husband out at dinner. The daughter, Ava (Michelle Trachtenburg) wants an elaborate wedding (we see a bill for $48,000). Jimmy can't afford to pay for that, least of all now that he's suspended without pay. The new husband Roy (Jason Lee) offers to pay for it, but it's more to humiliate Jimmy than to help Ava. Jimmy can't let that happen, so he decides to sell his one of a kind baseball card, worth up to $80,000. When he arrives at the card shop to sell it, the shop is robbed by Dave (Seann William Scott) and an accomplice, who take money and memorabilia, including Jimmy's card. Jimmy sees Dave's distinctive tattoo and he and Paul figure out which shop he got it at, pressuring the tattoo artist and get a tip on the house he's going to rob next. They stake out the house before Dave gets there and once he arrives, they capture him and find out who's buying all the stuff from Dave.The buyer is drug overlord Po' Boy, who's brother was the supplier in the cell phone store. Jimmy and Paul go to see Po' Boy, and he agrees to give them the card back if they find his new car (which was stolen en route to him). The car was sold to a Russian lawyer, and they track him down. Once they get the car (and get Po' Boy's brother killed in the resulting chase), they decide to figure out why it's so important to Po'Boy, and they find Gabriella (Ana de la Reguera) in the trunk. She doesn't speak any English, so they take her to a diner to a guy they know who speaks Spanish, and he tells them she is the mistress of a Mexican drug lord. They know she's in trouble so they take her to a hotel to keep her safe, and just then Jimmy gets a call from some other cops who tell him Paul is a dirty cop (because his gun was used in a couple of gang killings after Dave stole it during the card shop robbery and sold it to Po' Boy). He rebukes them and goes back to the hotel, where he finds Paul asleep and Gabriella escaped through the window (saying she doesn't want to cause them any trouble by hanging around with them). She has left her crucifix on the table, which turns out to be bank account information for lots of accounts linked to drugs, which Po' Boy was attempting to steal.So now, knowing that the entire Po' Boy operation will be at the funeral for Po' Boy's brother for about an hour, they bail Dave out of jail so he can help them steal the card back. He promptly slips off the roof and is knocked out (setting up an in-credits gag where he wakes up in the morgue). Jimmy gets himself to the second floor and is still there when the organization returns to the house after capturing Gabriella off-screen. The other two cops who accused Paul show up (they had been working the case as well), and one is shot, prompting the other to call for backup to the house. This is when Paul is roused from his depression, figuring out that his wife, Debbie (Rashida Jones) isn't cheating on him, after all (a side-story running throughout). Paul and Jimmy proceed to clear the house of gangsters, leaving them with Po' Boy -- who has Gabriella hostage. They both shoot and both hit him, killing him instantly.After securing Gabriella with the paramedics, Jimmy returns to the house to find his baseball card, only to discover that it was in Po' Boy's front pocket, and Paul had destroyed it with his shot.The movie closes at the wedding, which Roy paid for. Jimmy's ex-wife Pam (Francie Swift) asks Jimmy to give away the bride with Roy (since Roy paid for the wedding, and all). He agrees, mostly because she threatens him. At the fateful moment, however, we see Paul (who is sitting behind Roy) put his gun in Roy's back, threatening to shoot if he stands to give away the bride -- allowing Jimmy the privilege all alone.

Tags: comedy, murder, violence, cult, flashback, humor

Review:
What he may lack in compelling direction skills, he more than makes up for in witty screenplays with equal balance raunch and insight having crafted classics such as Clerks and Chasing Amy. With Smith absent from the writing role there is absolutely no reason to seek out Cop Out.Calling Cop Out a 'buddy cop' film would be a gross misnomer.
If she had penned Cop Out this review could be reading far differently) but as with actors like Chris Rock and Chris Tucker, a little goes a long way.Then we have Bruce Willis who just seems eager to leave.
I would have begged for a Beverly Hills Cop XXII over this near abomination.The plot, in case you care, centers on Willis' and Morgan's Jimmie and Paul, two NYPD detectives who stumble into a drug ring after Jimmie's prized baseball card is stolen in front of his eyes during a robbery.
He needs the card to pay for his daughters wedding and as he searches with the help of the criminal by which it was stolen (William Scott) uncovers more than he had in mind.In summation, this film fails as a comedy, fails as an action film, fails as a breakout role for Tracy Morgan, fails as a return to the cop genre for Willis and mars Kevin's Smith's mostly unblemished track record.
And it was a "classic" Tracy Morgan performance, by which I mean he's his usual off-kilter self, some of his scenes work well and some of them fall flat on their face in awkward silence.A 50% success rate is more than I can say for Bruce Willis, though, who looked so disinterested I was half expecting him to break character at any moment and announce he had to leave the set because he had a plane to catch for another movie he was filming.The supporting cast of the underrated Sean William Scott and Jason Lee were their usually amusing selves, while the Latino gang villains, led by Guillermo Díaz of The Shield and Weeds fame, are absurdly over the top and clichéd, almost to the point of offensiveness.It's a movie you'll probably see on cable while nursing a hangover one morning, or something you watch on a plane because it's light and there aren't many better choices.
Kevin Smith's first directing gig that he didn't write himself, "Cop Out," finds the director re-teaming with his "Live Free or Die Hard" co-star, Bruce Willis, as well as Tracy Morgan and Seann William Scott, who both starred in his 2001 film and quite possibly the biggest inside-joke put to film, "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back." More than that, though, the film is a brilliant throwback to the glory days of such 80's buddy cop franchises as "Lethal Weapon" and "Beverly Hills Cop." You'll recognize key dialog from the former while the composer for the latter, Harold Faltermeyer, makes a glorious return to the genre with a quirky retro score that sets the mood just right.
While this odd-couple/cop formula has been done to death in the past, it works for this film and is done in a loving way that pays tribute rather than re-hashes.Smith, whose films are mostly talk, proves himself to be a competent action director at times throughout the film.
As the movie opens the music tells you right now this isn't serious and it starts playing off possibly every "cop buddy" movie possible.As it opens Tracy Morgan shines in my opinion, he is energetic and a "perfect match" for Bruce Willis in this movie.
This film is light, well intentioned, hilariously funny and with good performances by the unusual team made by Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan.Willis and Morgan play two suspended detectives with some personal goals to achieve.
Willis wants to pay for his daughter's wedding and he needs money for it, and he would get the money by selling a rare baseball card but it was stolen from him and he needs to get back; Morgan's character doesn't trust his wife so much believing that she has an affair with the neighbor, so he keeps investigating possible affairs.
Not only the team made by Willis & Morgan were cool but the team made by Kevin Pollak and Adam Brody as the serious detectives were responsible for the most interesting and funny moments of the film; Seann William Scott goes very well with his usual comedy style, here playing a thief.
The only problem with this film is the villain played by Guillermo Diaz, because this guy is so dangerous that there's no sense of comedy about him, it's not funny, and when director Kevin Smith tries to make of him a funny guy it is just too forced, weird.The 1980's references and the film references (mentioned by the film buff detective played by Morgan) are the best.
I have to echo another reviewer who stated, "I have rarely seen such a stark disconnect between some scathing reviews and actual audience reaction." I just saw this film because I really like Tracey Morgan, Bruce Willis and SWS and figured that for a $5 matinée it would be diverting.
Easy and light movie with good, cool acting from Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan and Seann W.
I couldn't wait for the movie to end and I feel sorry for Bruce Willis, hey man, better enjoy your retirement than act in such chaotic remakes of all the old cop movies!.
Bruce Willis as a self-aware take on his usual cop character, Tracy Morgan as his slightly-wacky sidekick, Seann William Scott as a wacky burglar, Kevin Pollack and Adam Brody as slightly-incompetent and slightly- obnoxious cops, Michelle Trachtenberg as Bruce Willis' bride-to-be daughter, Guillermo Diaz as baseball-loving Mexican gangster Poh Boy - all were great in their roles.
Kevin Smith, in his first time as a director of someone else's material, did a damn good job of directing not only the dialog that is usually his specialty, but also the action parts that usually aren't present in his films.Don't expect Kubrick or Hitchcock, but definitely see this if you want an entertaining, funny way to spend a couple of hours without having to think too much.Even if you don't like Kevin Smith (I'm a fan, so I don't have this problem), remember that Martin Brest, the director Beverly Hills Cop, is also the writer/director/producer of Gigli.
This is a cop action/ comedy, bruce WAS funny, i love seeing him throw around the F word and cursing in every sentence, and considering Die Hard 4 was censored to hell, this movie shows he can still talk like he did in the original 3 Die Hards.
At least the movie lives up to its title -it cops out in every department, especially laughs.If you can wait 7 weeks, you'll be able to rent it at your local video store.Not really worth your time or your money.A laughless "comedy" that is more pathetic than funny.
Kevin Smith is no longer that bold independent director from "Clerks" or "Chasing Amy" and follows the easy way of Hollywood making a conventional film, supported by the chemistry between Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan.
Jimmy and his long-time partner Paul (Morgan) set out to track down the baseball card and find themselves in the middle of a case to bring down a local drug lord who hopes to expand his business.See, it even sounds like an 80s buddy cop movie!!
Of course its unrealistic, but it is a very funny movie.Tracy Morgan's character was over the top as I would have expected, but this time he really didn't annoy me.
The way the final bad guy bites the dust was very unexpected, original and funny.I don't know if it will warm me up as a Tracy Morgan fan, but he did good on this one.
Its sad actor like Bruce Willis has taken this second class movie role.Tracy Morgan shouldn't even act..
Cop Out casts Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as a couple of police partners with some serious issues.
Cop Out doesn't do Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, and director Kevin Smith much favors....
With names like Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, and director Kevin Smith attached, Cop Out sounded like a can't miss comedy.
And the movie couldn't decide if it wanted to be a buddy cop comedy or a parody of a buddy cop comedy.The story begins with two cops named Jimmy and Paul(Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan) who have partners for nine years.
From the opening scene where Tracy Morgan played out scenes from every movie ever made (and Bruce Willis retorting that he hadn't seen that one to the Die Hard reference).
Kevin Smith is at his Best.I bet a lot of Kevin Smith Fans would not even know He did it.The Plot is a little predictable but who cares its about the action and the one liners which this movie totally delivers.I am in no way a Bruce Willis fan but he Was as funny as hell and Tracy Morgan will always be Funny.
If you told me "there's a new cop movie out with Bruce Willis", I would have thought "Oh great, I don't want to actually waste my time watching a movie I can sit predict in my head before hand".
STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning Jimmy Monroe (Bruce Willis) and Paul Hodges (Tracy Morgan) are your typical mis-matched New York cops who are on the trail of a wanted drug dealer who has a particular interest in a car they've got hold of.
Morgan was his usual eccentric, over the top character, but it was so overdone that only kids may enjoy his performance just because his body language looks so stupid.Bruce Willis seemed completely annoyed, a bit like he just wanted to get over with the scenes to grab a strong Irish coffee and a cigarette, cash his check and go home to watch TV and hang around.
I don't know what the hell is wrong with you haters, you don't expect a serious comedy movie when Tracy Morgan is in it's hilarious,i laughed my head off.
There is inevitably a touch of that in this film, but it does have some solid acting by all the main characters to give it some impetus at crucial times.Cop Bruce Willis must raise face saving money for his daughter's wedding and he has worked out a legal way of doing so.
When I heard that Kevin Smith was making a film with Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, I was in.
The first thing that hit me strong when started to watch the movie- that I was wondering whose decision and what kind of politics stood behind hiring Tracy Morgan for the main character next to Bruce Willis!
I would imagine, for example, that Seann William Scott, usually not the first actor that comes to mind as "brings the funny", was allowed to just go off and take-off on the text, making for an overlong but amusing one-note joke that he keeps annoying Bruce Willis and Tracey Morgan's cop characters (mostly the latter with taunting about his character's wife's possible infidelity).
So what we're left in in Cop Out is a lot of un-funny banter between a tired-looking Willis and an idiotic and out-of-place Morgan, and a plot that involves Mexican drug kingpins treated like it's something fresh, which it isn't.
Copout had everything going for it- a buddy cop duo consisting of Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis.
Kevin Smith directs but does not write this tribute to 1980s buddy cop films.Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan are the mismatched pair.
Jimmy decides to sell an antique baseball card to help pay for his daughter's wedding but when making the transaction he gets robbed and the card is sold to a notorious criminal.The pair then go about retrieving the card, even by finding one of the crooks who robbed him (Sean William Scott) to help them out.At the same time they come across a drug lord who has kidnapped someone and Paul thinks his wife is having an affair.With a music score by Harold Faltermeyer this film certainly wants you to think of Beverly Hills Cop, Running Scared, Turner & Hooch, Tango & Cash as well as other 80s mismatched buddy comedies.The trouble is the script here is rubbish, many of the side characters are annoying and there is no chemistry between Morgan and Willis.
As a fan of director Kevin Smith's, I had curiosity of watching Cop Out, but not too much enthusiasm, because the history has shown us that he is a better screenwriter than director, and that when he wanders from his traditional formula, the result is atrocious (let's remember Jersey Girl).So, Cop Out faced two important problems: the screenplay was not written by Smith, and the film had nothing to do with the style and formula he established with all of his films, with the exception of the previously mentioned Jersey Girl.However, I decided to give the movie a chance...but it unfortunately ended up being a truly horrible "comedy".Since his first film (the extraordinary Clerks), many people have been criticizing Smith for his poor visual style.Frankly, I have never been bothered by that characteristic (or lack) in his films.But what I discovered in Cop Out is that Smith's weakest point as a director is his ineptitude for keeping a consistent rhythm...an organic flow from the story which takes us from the beginning to the end with naturalness.Fortunately, in films like Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma, we had sparkling dialogs and intelligent humor in order to get distracted from the narrative inconsistencies.However, with such a poor screenplay like the one from Cop Out, Smith's limitations as a director are noticed, and they ruin the few attributes which could have beeen rescued from it.As for the cast, Tracy Morgan makes a competent work; pity he did not have a better screenplay to work with.Bruce Willis feels forced and bland in his character; this is not the acid and subversive Willis from Die Hard, but the irritating and affected Hollywood star from Live Free or Die Hard.In the supporting cast, the solid actors Adam Brody, Kevin Pollak, Seann William Scott and Rashida Jones are absolutely wasted on their roles.So, in summary, Cop Out is an irritating and pathetic film experience that I do not recommend by any means.I understand the ambition that impulses Smith to transcend his niche, and I respect his value for testing with new genres (if "odd couple of cops" can be considered as "new").However, his talent is limited to a defined range, from which he should not stay away.I hope that he learns the lesson, so that he does not make pieces of crap like Jersey Girl or Cop Out anymore..
Smith did include some semi-comical moments to the movie, but most of the attempted comedy was mainly misfires from Willis and Morgan's typecast characters; and it did not help Smith much that he had to work with a cop-buddy mechanical script from Rob & Mark Cullen.
Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan team up for a raunchy R rated buddy cop movie directed by none other than the great Kevin Smith.
It is a movie about two goofball cops, Jimmy (Willis) and Paul (Morgan), who get suspended from the force after a drug bust goes horribly wrong.
This film is immature, stupid, unoriginal, and just plain not funny.At first I couldn't believe that the likes of Kevin Smith, who I just love, could make such an awful movie.
I accept the fact that this is just a dumb story and the real purpose of this film is to put Willis and Morgan in some "hilarious" situations for our "entertainment" so that we can all just sit back and "laugh." But the problem is that this movie isn't funny!
We had the star of an 80's movie play the lead and we had a composer who composed 80's action movies such as Beverly Hills Cop. In other ways, this is a Kevin Smith-like comedy and it's pretty good.This is about two cops who go undercover so that the elder one, Jimmy can retrieve his stolen baseball card that's going to fund his daughter's wedding.Bruce Willis and Seann William Scott steals the show.
Tracy Morgan had some funny scenes but he was mostly annoying.Overall, this is a decent action/comedy film.
Cop Out also represents, arguably, the film with the most mainstream elements that Kevin Smith has directed to date, featuring Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan, along with a more traditional buddy cop formula than many of his other films.
I had read that there were a lot of issues on this film due to Bruce Willis having an attitude and refusing to work with Kevin Smith.
The biggest problem with this film comes in the first scene, where Tracy Morgan gives Bruce Willis an anniversary card.
Which is a shame, as it also comes before probably the best scene in the film, where he's paying homage to some screen greats (including a film that Bruce Willis doesn't recognise), which gives Morgan a chance to shine.Putting Sean William Scott and Morgan together gives a few laughs, as they have the energy that could have driven this movie in a more Kevin Smith style direction (and maybe having them as two rookie cops might have been the way to go), while Willis and Jason Lee duke it out as more fatherly figures.
I knew this movie hadn't rocked the box office, but I love Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Seann William Scott and Kevin Smith, so I had to watch it.Of course the plot is pretty weak, but action is sufficiently high energy for most males and the Willis/Morgan chemistry is great and they are excellent straight/funny men.