Having high expectations for a comedy action movie can often be a misguided approach to cinema going, which is why films like Let’s Be Cops can sometimes be overlooked. However, in this case you should probably lift your hopes and get it in on either DVD, Blu-ray or digital download, because it’s a genuine blast of a movie with a whole lot of laughs and some incredibly menacing bad guys to give it just enough edge to impress.
The movie had a little success at the Box Office when it was released back in August 2014, but not nearly as much as it deserved as it sort of got missed in the haze of the summer movie frenzy. It has since been released on DVD, Blu-ray and digital download (26th December 2014 in the UK and 11th November in the US) and it’s well worth a watch to blow away the winter blues.
The storyline has got comedy gold written all over it as two luckless guys struggle to make a dent on the high-flying, success-fueled lifestyle of LA. Things change one night for Justin and Ryan when they dress up as cops for a high school reunion masked ball and while their old friends are left thinking that they’re both pretty big losers they stumble on the power of the uniform as they head home dejectedly.
From here-on-in they slowly start to throw caution to the wind and suit up in the outfits more and more, getting deeper and deeper into the role as local cops. This leads them brilliantly into the firing line of local gangster Mossi Kasic, who’s menacing rule has been left unquestioned until the two fake cops bumble their way into his world.
Jake Johnson (New Girl) and Damon Wayans Jr. (Big Hero 6) combine up well as a comedy duo in the roles of the two hapless fake cops, working out to be both ridiculous and endearingly funny in their attempts to use and abuse their new-found powers. They’re added to by the comedy gold that comes as ever from Rob Riggle (21 Jump Street), playing Officer Segars, and a solid performance from Keegan-Michael Key (Lego Movie) as Pupa.
However, the film is made real by the genuine criminal rage and psychopathic intent of James D’Arcy (Hitchcock) as Mossi Kasic and the quietly intelligent portrayal of Detective Brolin by Andy Garcia (The Godfather Part III, Ocean’s Eleven). They make for a pretty good team in themselves and provide a wall of seemingly insurmountable odds for Justin and Ryan to attempt to face.
We’re also big fans of Nina Dobrev, who makes for a good damsel in distress and again brings a little normality to the plot as the struggling make-up artist waitress and love interest for Justin, Josie. She’s a big early shout to go on to be a future Bond girl if she can tap into her serious acting side in the not too distant future. We also like a lot of the scenes with comedian, Natasha Leggero, who plays their crazy stake-out host, Annie, with a lot of funny moments.
We really liked watching Let’s Be Cops, although, in all fairness, the movie hasn’t exactly been welcomed by a lot of other critics, but you can’t win them all. Our take is that this is the kind of film that you can add to your DVD, Blu-ray or digital download collection and watch any time you need a pick-me-up. It’s fast, funny and sort of inspiring in a slacker kind of way, making it a winner in our books.
Let’s Be Cops DVD, Blu-ray and digital download review: 3.7/5
