Film Review: ‘Let’s Be Cops’ Unoriginally Repeats Old Formulas

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Average: 5 (1 vote)

CHICAGO – The premise is sound, but the new film “Let’s Be Cops” refuses to do something original with the premise of a couple of regular Joes pretending to be Johnny Law. The same stale jokes and inevitable need for heroic action climax overwhelms the mild amusement of it all.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.0/5.0
Rating: 3.0/5.0

Jokes about horny boys, marijuana, horny ladies, mistaken identities and obsession with ridiculous minutiae – like having the boys involved in a “case” – limit the enjoyment of the two lead actors. Damon Wayans Jr. handles smart comedy much better than the physical or character variety, and is miscast, and his partner Jake Johnson practically sweats blood to deliver the scenario, going off in directions that quite frankly would have him spend jail time in the real world. Will there be a wacky arrest that the fakers have to do? Yes, and it will be extreme, though bizarrely funny. In essence, “Let’s Be Cops” is a new idea that relies on old cop comedy standards, without stepping into the current police state.

Ryan (Jake Johnson) and Justin (Damon Wayans Jr.) have the movie jobs of actor and video game developer, but their lives in Los Angeles at 30 years old are going nowhere. When they mistake a masquerade ball for a costume party, they end up dressed as cops (Ryan had the costumes from a video shoot). Naturally, the general population thinks they’re real cops, and their lives suddenly change.

Ryan becomes obsessed with his new role, and takes it extreme proportions, including buying a cop car on ebay and dressing it to look like a Los Angeles law enforcement vehicle – so much for the starving artist – and gets into his role by studying procedural videos online. Justin is reluctant, but goes along because he gets attention from the fetching Josie (Nina Dobrev). Meanwhile, Officer Segars (Rob Riggle) gets the non-cops involved in a real case involving crime boss Brolin (Andy Garcia), and their fakery is about to be tested.

”Let’s Be Cops” opens everywhere on August 13th. Featuring Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson, Rob Riggle, James D’Arcy, Nina Dobrev, Natasha Leggero and Andy Garcia. Written by Luke Greenfield and Nicholas Thomas. Directed by Luke Greenfield. Rated “R”

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Let’s Be Cops”

Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson
Justin (Damon Wayans Jr.) and Ryan (Jake Johnson) in ‘Let’s Be Cops’
Photo credit: 20th Century Fox

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “Let’s Be Cops”

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