COP OUT

COP OUT has the makings of an entertaining buddy comedy. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan have good chemistry as bickering New York police detectives, and the heroes’ goals are ultimately positive. The movie also includes overt Christian and biblical references, culminating in a wedding ceremony with quotes from Psalm 23 and 1 Corinthians 13.

But the comedy is crude, and the negative content overwhelms the movie’s better moral elements. Abundant foul language, a very crude visual homosexual joke, strong action violence, sexual references, alcohol, smoking, and drug references make this a poor choice for a family movie night.

If you are a discerning adult interested in the film, home viewing gives you more control over the experience. For children and young teens, choose something cleaner.

Jim and Paul are two bickering New York police detectives whose investigation draws them into a Latino drug dealer’s plan to take over the Mexican drug trade on the East Coast.

Jim is also trying to pay for his daughter’s dream wedding, but a stolen baseball card and a missing car complicate matters. As the detectives pursue the case, they discover that the car contains a kidnapped woman—and that the scheme is much bigger than they expected.

Three stars means COP OUT has some worthwhile entertainment value but falls short of what it could have been. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan make a strong comedy team, and their bickering detective partnership gives the movie energy.

The film’s positive Christian and moral elements also give it a better foundation than its content suggests. However, the crude comedy spoils much of the fun, while the abundant obscenity and strong violence make the movie harder to enjoy. Willis and Morgan would make a great team in a better, cleaner, more inspiring film.

COP OUT presents a light moral worldview with overt Christian and biblical references. The heroes pursue positive goals, and the film ends with a Christian wedding ceremony featuring Psalm 23 and 1 Corinthians 13. The movie also presents love positively through its reference to 1 Corinthians 13.

Those elements are seriously weakened by strong pagan and immoral content. The film includes a very crude visual homosexual joke, abundant obscenity, violence, sexual references, alcohol use, smoking, drug references, robbery, lying, and jealousy. Some wrongdoing is rebuked, but the crude material makes the movie’s positive moral message harder to appreciate.

The film’s longing for love and a meaningful marriage points toward biblical truth, even though the surrounding comedy often works against it. Scripture says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

COP OUT has a good comedy team and some sincere Christian and moral elements, but crude humor and heavy negative content spoil the experience. Save it for discerning adults at home, and choose something cleaner for your family. WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. For alternatives, see.