Copshop review

COPSHOP:

FRANK GRILLO AND GERARD BUTLER ARE A PERFECT ACTION MOVIE TEAM-UP, AND THIS FILM PROVES IT! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** ½ out of 4

OPEN ROAD FILMS

Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder, and Toby Huss in Copshop

 

            A con artist and a professional hitman out to get him end up in jail and the fireworks start to fly in Copshop, the new action film directed by Jon Carnahan (Smokin’ Aces, The A-Team, The Grey) and stars Gerard Butler (300, Olympus Has Fallen trilogy, Greenland) and Frank Grillo (End of Watch, Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Purge: Anarchy/The Purge: Election Year). This is a film that pretty much flew under my radar if I’m being honest with myself, aside from seeing a couple of trailers for it before The Protégé and I believe Candyman also, so I didn’t really know what to expect when going into it. 

            While Marvel continues to dominate the box-office with Shang-Chi, here’s this little action film that was released this past weekend and isn’t getting much attention, despite being well-received critically. Well, I have to say for a movie that I’ve only seen the trailer for only a couple of times, I loved the Hell out of this film!

            I don’t even know where to begin with this, the action is exhilarating, it has a riveting plot that builds tension from start to finish, the acting is excellent, and it’s also extremely funny. The best way I can describe it is like a modern-day version of one of those gritty action films and revenge thrillers from the 1970s-80s and if you’re nostalgic for those kinds of films then you will absolutely adore this movie. 

            The film follows Teddy Murretto (Grillo), a wily con artist on the run through the Nevada desert by lethal hitman, Bob Viddick (Butler). To escape Viddick’s wrath, Murretto comes up with the brilliant idea of sucker-punching rookie cop, Valerie Young (Alexis Louder-The Tomorrow War) to get himself arrested and locked-up in a small-town police station. 

            However, Viddick schemes his own way into jail, biding his time in a nearby cell until he can complete his mission. Viddick is the least of Murretto’s problems as a competing assassin known as Anthony Lamb (Toby Huss-King of the Hill, 42, Halloween (2018)) soon arrives and ignites all-out mayhem at the police station as Viddick, Valerie, and Murretto may have to work together in order to escape, but can Valerie really trust them? 

            The film also stars Ryan O’Nan (Queen of the South) as Huber and Kaiwi Lyman-Mersereau (Hawaii Five-0, Westworld, Den of Thieves) as Barnes. 

            Overall, Copshop not only works as a groovy throwback to 1970s-1980s action films (Most notably Assault on Precinct 13 minus the assault), but it also does a brilliant job being this tension-based cops VS hitmen flick even without the nostalgia goggles on. The film pays homage to action films released over 40 years ago without focusing heavily on its callbacks or being meta about them, very natural and unpretentious. 

            The film has plenty of good old-fashioned shoot ‘em up action sequences with a body count and a lot of vengeance. While the action is a lot of fun, it also adds a layer of suspense and tension between the main characters who are stuck in a police station with assassins out to get them. 

            As exciting as the action is, the performances and characters are where the film shines the brightest. Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo are excellent in this movie and you’re not always certain which one you’re supposed to be rooting for, it adds a sense of mystery to these very eccentric characters and the banter between the two of them is brilliant and often quite funny.

            Toby Huss as this completely insane mobster is one of the most delightfully crazy villains I’ve ever seen in a movie. Every time this dude appeared onscreen, I was laughing constantly throughout all of his scenes, he’s the kind of villain who shoots a machine gun at a bulletproof window and then sings some Curtis Mayfield songs, he’s the kind of wacky villain where he doesn’t chew the scenery…he eats the whole f*cking set with all the other actors inside! 

            However, the real scene-stealer is Alexis Louder as the rookie cop, I’m not overly familiar with her other work, but she is phenomenal in this film. She has great moments where she’s bored at the station and starts dueling with another officer at a desk with empty gun chambers and a scene where she has to choose who to set free to fight the mobster and like the character herself, you’re not sure if she’s going to make the right or wrong choice. 

            All three of these actors work wonderfully together and the film takes its time to establish the characters so you can grow attached to them before some of them randomly get killed in the blink of an eye. This is an example of character development done right without overly relying on exposition dumping or excessive movie clichés.  

            I guess a minor nitpick would be maybe the film’s ending could have been trimmed down a little, the film is just under two hours and there is a bit of a fake-out of when the movie ends by cutting to black, but then it shows a character driving on a road and the film keeps going for a few more minutes. This is extremely minor as I was completely engrossed and entertained by this film from beginning to end, never bored and smiled ear to ear as the film played…which is already a step up from Cry Macho where the only emotions I had were mild interest and sleepy. 

            Copshop is a film that deserves all the attention it can get and is something I urge people to go see right away. Whether it’s in theaters, digital rental, or on Blu-Ray, this is an absolute must-watch if you’re a fan of action films or especially if you’re nostalgic for 1970s-1980s action films like Assault on Precinct 13, Lethal Weapon, or the original Mad Max, this Copshop guarantees a bloody, good time for all.