A One Mann’s Movies review of “Copshop” (2021).
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
And so we reach the dregs of the summer season. “Copshop” is a movie that looked appallingly naff from the trailer but which, whilst still not being bloody Shakespeare, does have its moments.
It’s been a while since Butler played more of a “bad guy” role… and it suits him. (Source: STX International).
Plot Summary:
Teddy Murretto (Frank Grillo) is arrested after deliberately punching dedicated rookie cop Valerie Young (Alexis Louder) and incarcerated within Gun Creek City police station. Soon after, Bob Viddick (Gerard Butler) is dumped in the opposite cell for drunk driving. It’s clear both men intended to end up there, but why?
The wheels come off the night big time though when the psychopathic Anthony Lamb (Toby Huss) arrives, having the same mission as Viddick.
Keanu’s stand-in for “Matrix 4” was practising his moves. (Source: STX International)
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Toby Huss, Alexis Louder.
Directed by: Joe Carnahan.
Written by: Kurt McLeod and Joe Carnahan. (Based on a story by Mark Williams).
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Effortlessly stealing the show for me. Alexis Louder as police officer Young. (Source: STX International)
“Copshop” Review:
Positives:
- While the three male leads have fun with their roles, the star of the show for me was the (unknown to me) Alexis Louder. She delivers a really strong performance here, with a confident stillness in some of her close-ups.
- There are a number of nice lines in the script, some of which made me laugh out loud, which I wasn’t expecting to do.
- As a ‘park your brain at the door’ shoot-em-up, the ending is fun, similar in many ways I thought to the claustrophobic violence of “Free Fire“.
Toby Huss as psycho Anthony… sorry, Tony… Lamb. Hugely annoying in the ending of the trailer, but better in the movie as a whole. (Source: STX International)
Negatives:
- Here’s YET another example of a script that is downright insulting to the audience’s intelligence. There are some genuine “WTF” moments in this script. I can’t go into details without dropping spoilers, but the biggest of these – you’ll know it when you see it – is a genuine “HANG ON A MINUTE!!!” moment.
- The sound mix drowns out a lot of the (already drawly and indistinct) dialogue with the incessant music. It’s really difficult to pick up on some of the lines.
- There’s something surprisingly ‘retro’ about the whole movie, right down to the use of split screen at the end. The titles feel as if they were from a 70’s TV show like Kojak. I could imagine this would work well… if the movie had actually been set in the 70’s (and there are obviously clear parallels with “Assault on Precinct 13” here).
The police dentist needed Viddick to open just a bit wider. (Source: STX International)
Summary Thoughts on “Copshop”
There’s almost a good little action film buried in here struggling to get out. Alexis Louder makes a very positive impression with the best parts of the film happening when she is verbally sparring with Butler. But a good action movie needs to keep things credible, albeit on the edge of credibility (e.g. John McClane’s lift shaft fall in “Die Hard” is very much on the boundary, if a little over it). Thanks to some ludicrous decisions within the script, this one lost all credibility for me and took me right out of the story.
Trailer for “Copshop”:
The trailer for “Copshop” is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g_IQTLoUgg.
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