Review of Cop Out (2010) by Chads — 01 Mar 2010

Homage or parody? That is the question. Although the filmmaker gives out directions on how to watch "Cop Out", as Paul(Tracy Morgan) pays homage to other films by re-enacting them to a suspect under interrogation, the moviegoer should ignore the authorial voice emanating from Morgan's character, because "Cop Out" is a parody, since some of the apparently serious scenes are funnier than the intended comedic ones.

On occasion, the silly banter between Morgan and Bruce Willis(even sillier when Sean William Scott joins the party) can be moderately amusing, but it's the dramatic moments, like the one in which a Mexican drug dealer begs forgiveness from God in a church after his younger brother caps a flunkey, that "Cop Out" becomes "Buddy Cop Movie", a parody made all the more canny for its straight-faced execution of a cheesy eighties cop show like "Miami Vice".

This filmmaker, known for his impolite dialogue in such anarchic films such as "Clerks" and "Dogma", has to be kidding, right? As Jimmy, Willis keeps it "real"(or is it real?) while he wistfully discusses his daughter's upcoming wedding to a drug kingpin's mistress, a scene that seemingly sends-up the moment where the tough guy reveals his unbeknownst softer side, in this case, via soliloquy.

(The Hispanic woman can't understand English, so it's like he's alone). At the actual wedding, however, the emotionally climaxing moment where Jimmy gives his daughter away seems too sincere and persuasive in its adherence toward Hollywood conventionality, the moviegoer fears that the filmmaker might actually mean it.

If the sentimental ending is homage, and not a parody of bad television and movies, then "Cop Out" doesn't seem like a laughing matter anymore.