Movie Review: Let's be cops (2014)

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Written by Anthony Sargon

I genuinely laughed out loud a number of times while watching the Let’s Be Cops trailer. The movie seemed to be taking full advantage of a clever premise, and the chemistry between its two leading stars looked like something I could latch on to. Unfortunately, if you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve also seen the film’s funniest bits. I have no doubt that some audience members will find plenty to like about Let’s Be Cops, but it’s way too lazy and conventional to be the breakout comedy many of us were hoping for.

When Ryan (Jake Johnson) and Justin (Damon Wayans Jr.) dress up as cops for a costume party, everyone automatically assumes they’re actual cops. They then do the one sensible thing that most of us would do; take complete advantage of the situation. But things become significantly more complicated for our fake cops when they unexpectedly get tangled up in an actual case.

We’ve gotten a whole bunch of R-rated comedies this summer, and they’ve honestly been all over the map. This one lands squarely in the middle. There are enough funny moments spread out to keep you mildly entertained (again, if you haven’t watched the trailer), but the real problem is the film’s plot; some scenarios are painfully predictable and clichéd which, when combined with characters behaving like 10-year-olds, can make it really hard for you to suspend your disbelief.

Actors Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. have solid chemistry, but their characters’ relationship and struggles are too one-dimentional and banal. I really think the movie would have worked better if it had followed a format similar to Borat or Bad Grandpa, with unsuspecting folks getting pranked by fake cops, although I think that would be highly, highly illegal. It really just feels like writer-director Luke Greenfield built 90% of the film around a few funny gags and called it a day.

The Verdict:

Let’s Be Cops has a solid premise, some solid laughs, and solid chemistry between it’s leading stars. It’s also (sadly) quite stupid and lazy. If you’re on the fence about this one, just watch the second red band trailer; it’s the entire movie in about three minutes, and it’s a lot funnier.

Numerical Score: 5/10

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