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RATING:   
SINGAPORE : I have a confession to make: I love Kevin Smith movies. Even "Jersey Girl", which everybody else hated. Here's the thing: This isn't a Kevin Smith movie. Not quite, anyway.
Yes, it's directed by the dude, but it's the first time Smith has directed a movie not written by him. Instead, the Cullen brothers, Robb and Mark, whose previous credits include the TV series "Las Vegas" and "Heist", have screenwriting duties here.
Nevertheless, it bears some trademarks of a Kevin Smith movie: The banter between cops Jim Monroe (Bruce Willis) and his overdramatic partner Paul Hodges (Tracy Morgan); the return of Smith acting alums (Jason Lee, Morgan) and, yes, "Star Wars" references.
Here's the other thing: It's not great.
After everything the action genre has put out previously, this one has jokes that aren't funny enough, action that isn't fast-paced enough, and dialogue that isn't cheeky enough. In an early scene, Hodges attempts to interrogate a criminal by spouting famous movie lines. It would have been fun if Monroe didn't have to explain every movie reference.
Still, Morgan and Willis make a fine pairing combo a la other Smith pairings (Randall/Dante, Jay/Silent Bob, Banky/Holden); and Seann William Scott steals every scene he's in.
In the end, it's neither great nor edgy, and nothing makes "Cop Out" stand out. Unless you're talking about Rashida Jones and Ana de la Reguerra, the token hotties. That's another thing: If it takes Rashida Jones to make a Kevin Smith movie interesting ... But hey, this isn't a Kevin Smith movie, right? Not quite, anyway.
- TODAY/il
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