'Copshop' A Review

Copshop is an action/thriller about Teddy(Frank Grillo), a mob fixer turned informant, who is being hunted by hitman Bob(Gerard Butler), who are both locked up in a small-town jail by rookie cop Val(Alexis Louder). As Val attempts to get to the truth of her two perps the clock ticks down on the contract on Teddy's life and another contractor, the psychotic Tony(Toby Huss) launches a full scale assault on the titular copshop.

Grillo and Butler have presence but because of the size of the budget and the constrained nature of the script they are mostly hamstrung for the bulk of the runtime, being confined to holding cells and having to do simple straight-up scene work, not one of either of their strengths. Louder fairs much better and  has a bit more mobility, both emotionally and physically, within which to play. But the real star here, the biggest, and perhaps only, reason to see the movie is Huss who gives an absolutely ecstatic performance as Bob's unhinged hitman competitor. He gets the tone perfect, he's funny but menacing, and, as with all his performances, he has an effortlessness on screen, he almost glides through the frame, he's like some weird, lunatic, vaudevillian, dancer. He's truly incredible. For the most part, unfortunately, the rest of the cast, although all around decent, fail to reach his level.

Old school and competent Copshop has a solid, almost classic, set up, with a talented cast but seems to butt up against the confines of the script. Butler is essentially on the bench for the majority of the narrative, a miscalculated choice, Grillo has a horrible distracting wig and the audience is already aware of his situation long before the cops catch up creating an unnecessary and protracted drag in the middle of the picture. Ultimately casting Grillo and Butler, two of the most recognizable, traditional action stars working today, works against the movie when they engage in no action until the last ten minutes. Louder and particularly Huss are great but they don't balance out the inactivity of Grillo and Butler.

Mostly slow, very little burn.

Currently in theaters and available to rent on VOD.

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