Let's Be Cops
2014 · Directed by Luke Greenfield
Original language: English
- comedy
The story
Best pals Ryan and Justin are stalled in their respective careers -- a fact that is painfully driven home when they go to a college reunion. Dressed as police in the mistaken belief that they were to attend a costume party, Ryan and Justin find that the uniforms earn them much respect and attention. Although Justin is uncomfortable with the idea, Ryan decides to continue with the charade, putting them both in increasingly dangerous situations. When these newly-minted “heroes” get tangled in a real life web of mobsters and dirty detectives, they must put their fake badges on the line.
What it’s like
Bright, flat daylight and warm nightclub haze, shot in clean, conventional comedy coverage with plenty of medium two-shots and quick cuts between the leads' reactions. The palette leans on saturated blues and the familiar grey of city streets, with the look of a mid-budget studio comedy from the early 2010s: glossy digital texture, crisp faces, nothing grainy or moody about it. Sound is pop-leaning and upbeat, with a bouncy score that keeps the energy easy and loose. Its vibe is goofy, buddy-comedy easy, the kind of movie that works for a lazy Saturday or as low-effort company on a long-haul flight. Pacing is brisk and talky, built around bickering banter and escalating set pieces that never stay tense for long. The emotional register is light and affectionate, following two underachieving friends who learn that taking themselves a little less seriously is good for them. Intensity is moderate: some scuffles, car chases and gunplay played for laughs, a few bleak threats from mobsters, and mild profanity and sexual innuendo, but no real gore and little lasting dread. It suits viewers who want a crowd-pleasing, uncomplicated comedy with a warm friendship at its centre.
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