Quick Review: Cop Out

Good grief, I saw this 10 days ago and am finally getting around to writing about this old movie from the 1980s...what's that? It's actually a new movie? Starring Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan? Directed -- but not written -- by Kevin Smith? Oh. Well, it sure seems like it's from the 1980s. It's a generic mismatched-buddy-cop movie. It's "Lethal Weapon" or "Beverly Hills Cop" or whatever -- right down to the music used in the film (by Harold Faltermeyer, who had a hit with the "Axel F" theme from..."Beverly Hills Cop." Early on, there's a scene in which Morgan's character is interrogating a suspect and repeats various lines from movies. He says to Willis he's paying homage. This movie may think it's paying homage, but it's really just a retread, with a convoluted plot, and it's kind of all over the place. Morgan does his shtick, so if you like his act you'll enjoy it more. I think Willis was just in it for the paycheck. There is a lively turn by Seann William Scott, who robs a store where Willis is selling a rare baseball card (don't ask). And a gang leader is played by Guillermo Diaz, who happens to be openly gay, so props to him. My grade: C-plus.