Copshop (2021)
6/10
Starring
Gerard Butler
Frank Grillo
Alexis Louder
Directed by Joe Carnahan
I was really in the mood for an
old-school action thriller where the game is set from the start, the odds are
stacked against the protagonist, and everything is lined up for a good
old-fashioned shootout. This movie’s style is all about who will outlast who.
From the start, we peg the protagonist, rookie officer Val, as someone who is
way in over her head. She plays the classic rookie cop role—being overly
inquisitive and annoying all the seasoned officers. It’s the kind of character
development you’ve seen in every rookie cop movie.
The plot isn’t particularly
complex, nor does it require deep thought to keep up. It’s very much in the
vein of an ’80s action flick, with an anti-hero tasked with stopping the bad
guys who’ve crossed the wrong people. The cinematography and direction, courtesy
of Joe Carnahan, carry that same vibe he’s known for. If you’ve seen his other
movies like Smokin' Aces, The A-Team, The Grey, or Boss Level, you’ll know what
to expect here. If you enjoyed those, this one’s worth a watch.
Now, back to the movie. Val (and
only Val) notices something suspicious about today’s arrests. The two men in
custody don’t quite add up. First, there’s Teddy (Frank Grillo), who
deliberately punched her in the face so he could get arrested. Then there’s Bob
(Gerard Butler), who pretended to be drunk and drove into parked police
cars—also ensuring he’d get arrested and placed in the same room as Teddy.
Meanwhile, within the same police
station, there’s a dirty cop working for the wrong people who’s been tasked
with “assisting” in the Teddy situation.
So, what’s the Teddy situation?
Unfortunately, this is where the movie disappoints.
Teddy’s predicament isn’t as
complex or intriguing as the build-up suggests. It could have been, but the
movie doesn’t give us enough backstory or insight. His crimes are quickly
explained in a brief, almost dismissive way, so the focus can shift to the
psychopath hitman, Anthony, who has broken into the station. Anthony is after
the bounty on Teddy’s head, but it turns out Bob is also in on the game and
wants the same prize.
Here’s the twist: Bob is locked
up, while Anthony and his accomplices have already wiped out all the cops in
the station. Val is the only one left alive, barricading herself in the
bulletproof holding cell where Teddy and Bob are being held.
Val’s injured—she’s been shot and
is bleeding. Meanwhile, Anthony is trying to break down the wall to get to
them. She needs help, but she doesn’t know who to trust: Teddy, the
self-centered liar, or Bob, the professional hitman.
Copshop was a fun watch and is
sure to appeal to action lovers.
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