Cop and a Half: New Recruit

I found this movie in Redbox and although it's not going to win any awards, I thought it was light fun and a movie that the whole family could enjoy.

Lou Diamond Phillips and Lulu Wilson are excellent in the lead roles here. Phillips portrays the veteran Detective Simmons, who doesn't have much use for the latest technologies. He'll get some help from the tech savvy 12-year-old Karina Foley whose late father was a policeman and it's a job she wants to eventually hold. By circumstance, they'll work together on a case where someone is pulling pranks at one municipal venue after another, threatening the town's popular annual festival. The quirky characters in the supporting cast add well to mix here also.

All in all, this comedy is a diversion from heavy dramas or action flicks, and surprisingly I found myself laughing quite a lot and enjoying the movie.

As you may know, the original "Cop and a Half" movie that came out in 1993 was an instant joke that deservedly got trashed by critics, and today is still considered a low point in the history of Hollywood cinema. But it must have eventually made a lot of money on video and cable TV broadcasts, because twenty four years later comes this direct to DVD sequel. And the only good thing that this sequel manages to do is illustrate that the original movie could have been a lot worse. This movie manages to be bad in every way you can think of. The scripting is alternately predictable and ludicrous (particularly with what happens in the climax), the special effects are cheesy, and poor Lou Diamond Phillips looks very tired, haggard, and clearly knows he's in a turkey. However, the worst thing about the movie happens to be the character child actress Lulu Wilson plays. The character is possibly the most obnoxious child character I have ever seen in movie. Certainly the dialogue and situations Wilson has to play out play a part of this, but a bigger reason is Wilson's performance, which is unbelievably broad and grating, not allowing for even a little sympathy for her and her character. I know this movie is strictly aimed at a kiddie audience, but I think even kids will realize the utter contempt this movie will throw at them.

The original film had Burt Reynolds and Norman D. Golden II as mismatched partners. The producers here have updated the idea by replacing the Southern Gentleman and African American boy, and added more fancy toys for the villain to play with.

The antics wouldn't look out of place in a Spy Kids movie; the adults are idiots and only tech savvy and self appointed Hall Monitor, Karina can put the pieces together to solve a vexxing case that is more about humour than anything too deadly, which given its audience is PG, that's not really a surprise. It just wouldn't work if there was a body count, and it could even have made better sense to include a reason why that was; the villain was just a rubbish shot or was searching for some targeting-thingy and then they'd be unstoppable. Instead you have early Bond style lucky escapes that look a bit cheesy.

Lou Diamond Phillips is not bad as the conflicted Detective, seemingly playing both the driven John McClane and the conflicted Al Powell roles. Adverse to new technology - still using a flip phone - and instead used to old school methods.

In contrast, Lulu Wilson is very animated. Practically practically always on her phone and able to pull the story along with sequential "Eureka" moments; something happens in her normal life that gives her an idea to crack the case. Her phone itself is pretty amazing, and at times the action sequences and CGI were more believable than what she was doing with her iPhone.

Given the Captain was more mock hard ass, I wish it would have been Wendie Malick, though maybe that's because I remember Janet Kidder from her role in Arrow. And I wish they'd included Gina Holden as Sarah Foley a bit more; yes, the main plot revolves around the relationship her daughter and Detective Simmons builds, but apart for maybe one scene, mom seemingly has no interaction with daughter.

An OK, gunge style, kids film that fortunately went easy on the cartoon sound effects and over the top make up.

This is not a remake or a knockoff of the first one with Burt, but i really enjoyed this film because it was fresh and new and had good feel to it that connected with the actors. I would highly recommend this to watch with your kids and see how good this film is..

A sequel to a 24 year old film! I'm not talking a film like 'Blade Runner'. It was considered a flop, but the concept looked good, particularly for a children's film. This is not a follow up story. Entirely a new cast and a new situation. The story of a young girl Karina, influenced by her late cop father, she's interested in fighting, solving crimes. So she frequently ends up in the principal office in her school. On one day, she comes across a cop who is trying to follow a lead to a man responsible for a series of vandals around the city. This unusual team-up, sees an unexpected success, how it all happens that you should watch it to know.

The casting was decent, but the lead two guys were good. Particularly Lulu. Seems one of the future big star on making. The story, it's okayish. Predictable, but also enjoyable. Acceptable graphics, better one for television quality. There were lots of silly scenes, but overall a much entertaining film. Just a cinematic story, it does not make sense in the real world. A film that brings together kids and adults, a pure family film and a perfect weekend film. Such films do not make any harm, only you have to put aside a while your rational mind to have a good time.

6.5/10