Cop and ½ (1993)

Devon Butler is an eight-year old who dreams of being a cop. He watches police TV shows, knows police procedures, and plays cops and robbers with his friend Ray. One day, while snooping ... See full summary »

Director:

Henry Winkler

Writer:

Arne Olsen

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Norman D. Golden II, Ruby Dee

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Reynolds	...	Nick McKenna
Norman D. Golden II	...	Devon Butler
Ruby Dee	...	Rachel
Holland Taylor	...	Captain Rubio
Ray Sharkey	...	Vinnie Fountain
Sammy Hernandez	...	Raymond Sanchez
Frank Sivero	...	Chu
Rocky Giordani	...	Quintero
Marc Macaulay	...	Waldo
Tom McCleister	...	Rudy
Ralph Wilcox	...	Det. Matt McPhail
Tom Kouchalakos	...	Det. Jenkins
Carmine Genovese	...	Rio
Sean O'Neal	...	McNally (as Sean Evan O'Neal)
Max Winkler	...	Boy in Bathroom

Storyline

Devon Butler is an eight-year old who dreams of being a cop. He watches police TV shows, knows police procedures, and plays cops and robbers with his friend Ray. One day, while snooping around in a warehouse, he witnesses a murder. He goes to the police, who want the information, but won't get it until they make Devon a cop. The police then team him with veteran cop (and child hater) Nick McKenna, and the two team up in comic series of events to find the killer.

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Plot Keywords:

police | murder | drugs | fish | digit in title | 

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Taglines:

One kid's fantasy. One cop's nightmare.

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Genres:

Family | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language, violence and drug references

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 April 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

2 atairiasta lagonika

Filming Locations:

Dade City, Florida, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$31,888,805 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Films Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This picture is a spoof of the Hollywood buddy cop movie.

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Goofs

During the scene with Burt Reynolds (in a car) chasing a henchman (on foot) Burt drives through multiple fences and backyards. Just as Burt's hitting the last fence, he shouts "End of the line!" Immediately after that, in a side shot of the car, you can see a crew member bracing himself with his arm on the back of the driver's seat.

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Quotes

Devon: Bring the criminial back when you arrest them... Don't go... don't go let them eat... just bring them to jail! BRING THEM TO JAIL!

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Worst of '93 (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Movin' Much Too Fast"
Written by Curtis Griffin
Performed by The Men of Note

User Reviews

It's unctuous and unfunny make-believe

If all cop/buddy movies were like "Cop and 1/2," the genre would have died years ago. This is a spoof of the formulaic cop/buddy picture with a surprisingly exhausted-looking Burt Reynolds playing a detective teamed up with an unctuous, would-be-suave brat who dreams of wearing a badge. The kid is played by Norman D. Golden II. This is the first and only picture that I have seen him in and judging by this performance, I think he made a wise decision in leaving acting and taking up music for a career. Even if his performance was anything apart from irritation, I think a movie this devoid of fun and laughs would have scared him away.

Mr. Reynolds has been a great actor before, but here he looks just as bored and fatigue-stricken as I was watching this unfunny debacle. He has to team up with young Mr. Golden because the latter is a murder witness and he won't share his information unless they let him do what he's always wanted to do: be a cop. So, yeah, you've got the devoid-of-manners, ostentatiously ambitious brat following the grumpy, withheld detective around and a chain of gags and relations that are neither charming nor funny.

The movie as a whole is nothing more than over-the-top make-believe buttered with a pretentious, "please-like-me" attitude. You've got lame moments such as the kid having his head dunked into a toilet by a pair of school bullies, the tiresome punch-in-the-groin gag, and a villain played by Ray Sharkey who would rather sing 50s jazz than deal drugs. Here are moments where the movie even tries to live up to the silly mob comedies of the 1930s and 40s. Joe E. Brown must be turning in his grave. And then there is an incredibly lame and all-too-obvious to Stanley Kubrick's "Spartacus" that makes any loyal film historian groan. The picture is also unfunny because it's badly directed and frequently missing key shots so that the would-be jokes are not even fully registered and we have to think a little bit before we catch on to what the writers thought would be funny. The only chuckle from me came when the female police captain walked into the mens' room and nobody took half a notice.

The central problem, however, is that there is zero chemistry between Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Golden. The follow-through of their relationship is predictable from the start, the dialogue between them is mechanical. Mr. Golden seems enthusiastic, but I've already touched on my opinion of his acting competence. Mr. Reynolds seems just too tired and bored to put up much of an effort. It's not one of his finest hours.

"Cop and 1/2" is hokey tedium for adults and I think it's fair to say it would leave younger audience members restless. And then perhaps it's not a movie for little kids to see for it does contain some profanity, violence, and images of drugs. Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Golden are not strong contributors and the supporting performances by Ruby Dee, Ray Sharkey, Holland Taylor, and Frank Sivero are outside their comfort zones. I think everybody was happy when the making of his movie was over. They were probably even happier when it faded into obscurity. Is there anything that works? Hmm...Alan Silvesti's score and that's about it.