So, if you’re asking yourself, "man, why did you even show up," I’ll admit it, the other featured player was Bruce Willis and he’s one of my favorites. Of course, this means the film I saw this week had to be "Cop Out." And, as you should be able to guess from the intro above, it also means I loved it. If you don’t want to waste time reading a lot of filler, the boil down on this one is, it’s awesome, it’s everything a real guy wants in a shoot-’em-up along with stuff for the crowd who likes clever with their violence. For those who want more, here’s--

"Cop Out" is the funniest, wittiest, most action-packed buddy picture since "Lethal Weapon," and far better than any of the Gibson/Glover sequels. Now, to make small amends, I have to say here that I have nothing against Tracy Morgan. It’s SNL I feel has lost its punch over the countless decades since it was funny. Morgan loses points in the opening of the film with an endless sequence that goes over the top too quickly and then actually needs to be rescued by Willis. But, after that, once Morgan’s Robinwilliamsesque moment of unbridled self-indulgence is over, he becomes consistently funny. He’s not the only one.

The film also features Kevin Pollak and Adam Brody as Hunsaker and Mangold, rival detectives in the precinct. Both turn in fine performances, filled with plenty of opportunities to underplay scenes for the good of the over-all movie. To their credit, both of them do so admirably. Still, it is Willis who steals the show. The man hasn’t turned in a performance this funny since his three episode stint on "Friends." For this alone one can only pray they franchise this film immediately.  

Still, by far, the most amazing thing is the fact this film was directed by Kevin Smith. Smith amazed the world when he made the first super mega-indi-hit, "Clerks," for a few thousand dollars. Now it’s true, he had his core audience that would show up for anything he made, but on the whole his films seemed to get worse and worse as the years went by. And, although the six episodes of the "Clerks" animated TV series he made were utterly brilliant, even such films as "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and "Clerks II" didn’t seem to have his old punch.

All bets are off now. Many people have been calling "Cop Out" Smith’s "sell out" movie, the one he had to make to please the studios without seeing it. Well, all I can add is, I can’t imagine Warner Brothers isn’t as pleased as can be with the results. I certainly am, as all of Brooklyn, NY should be.  
Unlike many films, Smith did not just get a few skyline shots and then film the rest of the picture in Toronto. Those who live in the city of Ralph Kramden and the real Dodgers will recognize neighborhood after neighborhood--and more. For we insiders, to see not only Willis and Morgan, but then Brody and Pollak, eating at L&B Spumoni Gardens (86th St. between W.10th & 11th, Brooklyn NY), the greatest pizza place in Brooklyn, and one of the biggest cop hangouts ever.   My tip, see this movie, then head over to L&B Spumoni Gardens for dinner. It will be the best night you have all year. 

Our final word: 5 stars out of 5.

David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) is sheriff of Ogden Marsh, a picture-perfect American town with happy, law-abiding citizens. But one night, one of them comes to a school baseball game with a loaded shotgun, ready to kill. Soon after, another neighbor burns down his own house after locking his wife and young son in a closet. Within days, the sleepy little town town has been transformed into a sickening asylum; people who days ago lived quiet, unremarkable lives have now become depraved, blood-thirsty killers, hiding in the darkness with guns, pitchforks and knives.