CopShop Movie Review

“CopShop” takes a page out of the standard ‘Manual of Nominal Action Thrillers’. But it makes just enough scribbles in the margins to make it a decently slick movie. All of the ingredients are standard, and the cooking instructions are also straightforward. Take a basic format: hit man is out to kill his target, and a good cop wants to stand in the way. But then mix in some fresh ideas (it all takes place in a police station), and some off-the-wall characters (another hit man shows up delivering balloons), and it makes the bat guano fly!

Out on a deserted Nevada highway, a con man on the run is named Teddy Murretto (played by Frank Grillo). He is being chased by a ‘professional’ hit man named Bob Viddick (played by Gerard Butler). When he gets close to catching up to Teddy, Teddy decides to keep himself safe. He does that by finding a local rookie cop named Valerie Young (played by Alexis Louder). He punches her in the head and promptly gets arrested. If he is behind bars, Teddy thinks he will be safe from Bob Viddick.

But it is small police outpost and a small force in a tiny out-of-the way place in Nevada. Office Val and her chief and a few of the other cops on duty wonder why Teddy has multiple charges, but was never, ever convicted. The County Sheriff brings in a DUI suspect who is a John Doe. The drunk get puts in the cell across from Teddy. Of course, the drunk is not a drunk – it is Bob Viddick. There is a bounty on Teddy’s head, along with his man-bun. Bob is there to collect.

But news reports show of corruption and murder at the highest level in the state. The Attorney General was just found dead. And that office is compromised by bribes and payoffs. The local police unit in Gun Creek (what an appropriate name) also has a bad apple. Officer Huber (played by Ryan O’Nan) is stealing evidence. Bags of cocaine seized at a crime scene will pay off his debts. But before Huber can deliver that evidence, a happy delivery man delivering happy balloons shows up at the station.

Except that this delivery is geared more towards killing Teddy Murretto. It is a second hit man named Anthony Lamb (played by Toby Huss). Pretty soon all the other cops are at room temperature and Huber is working with Lamb. But Lamb is not a ‘professional’ hit man like him, says Bob Riddick. No, this guy is much more of a ‘psychopath’ hit man. Soon, Teddy Bob Viddick and Office Val are stuck on the inside of a jail cell wall. And there is nothing outside there except a corrupt cop and wild and crazy hit man.

So the “CopShop” (the police station) becomes a place with a stand-off between a severely wounded Officer and her two untrustworthy cell occupants. Val is in a serious medical condition, and Teddy just wants to get away. Bob Riddick just wants to get Teddy. Huber would like to get out of that place and have his debt paid off. Lamb doesn’t care about anyone or anything, but he would gladly kill everyone who is left standing.

“CopShop” takes a familiar concept and puts just enough zip into the action and the story to make it an enjoyable time. There is plenty of murder and mayhem, but many of the characters are like 2-D cut-outs. The main actors do a very decent job.  Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo (Bob Viddick, Teddy) have a little bit of depth in the performance. Also, Toby Huss is hoot to watch as the unhinged maniac killer hit man, Anthony Lamb. Also, Alexis Louder (Officer Val) gives a powerful portrayal of the one honest cop left standing.