*Reader Request* Let's be Cops

"Dude, let's be actors"

Our story starts out with Ryan (Jake Jonson) and Justin (Damon Wayans Jr.) living life as well as they can in Los Angeles  Ryan has taken the life of a couch bum, coasting through life off of some money he received from an embarrassing commercial. Justin is a sheltered man afraid to make any big steps in his life, currently working as a game designer (who only takes notes at meetings). After pitching his idea for a new game Justin is talked into wearing cop uniforms (he was using for the presentation) to got to a party. After the boys get done at the party they walk around in the city and are treated like real cops. Ryan takes this as a sign to go further into the role and buys all the things he can so they can actually attempt to be "real" cops. The two get in over their head when they cross the wrong man, and are forced into a situation where neither of them know what to do.

So, we can predict from that brief synopsis that this movie is very predictable. There will not be a moment in this movie that you don't see coming. Everything from the character development to the ending is "been there, done that" garbage, and the movie takes no real leaps of faith. I wasn't really expecting much from the storyline to be honest. From the previews I saw crazy friend A convinces awkward friend B, to do C, they get in over their head with D, one falls in love with E, one friend tries to the right thing but is always stopped by F, leading them down the predictable rabbit hole finally to Z. Knew this was going to happen the minute I stepped in the theater. We have already seen this type of movie this year, and that was "Ride Along," we will no doubt go through another one later this year or early next year (prediction is "Dumb and Dumber to," but I still have hope for that movie). These movies are here to serve as filler during the big blockbusters of the Summer and the Oscar bait of the Winter. No one expects these movies to be good, the only people these movies serve are the ones that are bored or aren't used to seeing movies as often as everyone else. The script writing is lazy, the actors are famous for something so they tried doing an actual movie, the music is a playlist of the top hits from a couple of months ago (or earlier), some jokes may register, but never have you rolling on the ground. All too familiar.

I know what you fans of "New Girl" are wanting to know. How did two out of the three (four, kind of) boys do in their own movie? Well my subheading might be a little misleading, but they did fine... as long as you put in "for their first movie" before you say that. Look, it is the first movie where both of them are the stars, and it is this movie, I'm not exactly expecting Brando like work here. So, for their first time they did fine, couple of moments of overdoing the bit, couple of moments of trying to convey emotion that doesn't necessarily register; but, all in all a perfectly serviceable performance by both men. Rob Riggle turns up and does what he does, which is funny but nothing we haven't seen in EVERY OTHER ROLE HE HAS DONE. New-comer serving as the love interest for this movie (basically a new-comer) Nina Debrev has some hidden talent lying in her; but, this was not the movie to see it. Andy Garcia showed up (seemingly because he was really desperate for money) and played a gangster so he did fine (stop the presses, right?)

What it all comes down to with a movie like this is the humor. Was the humor good enough to see past the OBVIOUS short comings this film showcased? The answer: almost. Yes, this movie had some moments in it where I could see some hope, but basically fell right to hell at the third act. The time proceeding that was pretty funny, nothing to write home about; but, at least enough to get a few chuckles out of me. Go with a few friends that are entertained by absolutely everything, and it will seem like Mel Blanc himself wrote this movie. I say that because this movie has been in circulation for over a month, the only people still seeing this movie are the people I was stuck in the theater with. The lowest common denominator. People that were in the mall, thought this movie looked good in a TV spot, and proceeded to laugh exceedingly louder with every hint of a joke. Went to go to the bathroom after the credits and people were quoting the movie. So, I am obviously not the target humor audience here. I guess I am just used to a better quality of film.

Final Verdict: Netflix it This movie is not going to be winning any comedy of the year awards, but it is perfectly fine sitting in your list until the day you finally get bored enough to watch it. There are plenty of other movies to see (or see again) to get over the end of summer lull.