"Cop Out" Delivers Solid Comedic Acting, Lazy Directing

For director Kevin Smith, “Cop Out” is both a step forward and a step back. His ninth work, it is also the first film of his he has not written personally. What you get is a bit of a departure from his normal, slightly melodramatic yet also verbally explicit writing style into a tribute to one of cinema’s great maligned genres: the buddy cop movie.

The genre is slightly familiar territory for Smith, who composed a tribute to 80’s teen movies with his cable classic “Mallrats”, and acted with Willis in the fairly terrible “Live Free or Die Hard”. But “Cop Out” works solely on the chemistry and comedy of its two leads, Tracy Morgan and Bruce Willis, who spend the movie making cop jokes and referencing movies (from “Training Day” to “Beetlejuice”) . Smith directs it like it’s the next “Lethal Weapon,” nothing too exciting, no real flourishes of any kind but fitting for the film.

Unfortunately, “Cop Out” features a narrative that can’t live up to the lineage of such classics as “Die Hard”, “The Last Boy Scout”, and uh “Bad Boys II”. The plot, essentially about a stolen baseball card, an eccentric Mexican drug lord and a childish kleptomaniac, is nothing more than an excuse for Morgan and Willis to make wisecracks and threaten criminals.

The script is adequate and Morgan’s craziness certainly brings things to another level. Perhaps the most enduring image of the film was a long shot of Morgan rapidly firing his gun while screaming in an increasingly insane fashion. One factor that cannot be criticized here is the comedic acting with even the supporting cast working well, though some are more effective than others.

Since Bruce Willis is divorced, as is traditional for him in a cop movie, the wife must have a scumbag second husband; and we get him here, played with arrogant glee by Smith regular Jason Lee.

A pair of annoying “enemy” cops are also here in clichéd tradition, played by Adam Brody and Kevin Pollack. These two are a bit too smarmy, leaving the reality set even by this action blockbuster wannabe.

Sean William Scott plays what could be described as the third lead, filling the role of the only person crazy enough to combat Tracy Jordan. He’s surprisingly annoying, fitting in well with the cynical and pseudo-sadistic cops. Again, Smith shows his best talent is allowing actors to run with some interesting dialogue and really give you something memorable.

In the end, the plot is meaningless. You’re just meant to enjoy the one liners, vibe to the retro feel (Beastie Boys over a slow motion walking shot for the opening titles, synth soundtrack the whole way through) and enjoy the slapstick action when it comes. If your even remotely interested in “homage” (as Morgan would put it), surely you will find some comedy in the “30 Rock” star’s take on Al Pacino in “Heat” and other such nonsense.

Smith has made good films (like the iconic “Clerks”), bad films (need I mention “Jersey Girl”?) and even one masterpiece in his seminal “Chasing Amy”, and to be honest I’m not sure where this work fits in. It’s fitting for him but also something anyone could have done behind the camera.

While “Cop Out” is entertaining, it may not be worth your $11.25 unless you’re a fan of Morgan, Willis or the genre. As for Smith, perhaps he should stick to his more personal work or at least try and develop a distinctive style besides the camera. If he keeps in this direction, at some level you must ask: even if it’s adequate, what’s the point?

Overall, Kevin Smith’s “Cop Out” gets a 3 out of 5.