A couple of 30-something buddies (Jake Johnson, Damon Wayans Jr.), bored with their humdrum lives, dress up as cops for a masquerade party—and discover that things are pretty cool when people think you are the law. Thus, they take the masquerade beyond the party—and start chasing criminals and busting perps in Let’s Be Cops.
Wayans Jr. is the spitting image of his dad in every way; it feels like this is a movie starring his dad after he time-traveled from the past into the present for the shoot. Meanwhile, Johnson, who has been making a name for himself in smart indie comedies (Safety Not Guaranteed, Drinking Buddies), tries to go big time with this vehicle—and fails miserably. The premise is insulting (not to mention a little dangerous), and it’s delivered with stale humor and bad performances all around.
Director and co-writer Luke Greenfield (The Girl Next Door) has a directed a movie more ugly than funny, and he has made Johnson and Wayans—two funny guys—look like amateurs.
Let’s Be Cops is playing at theaters across the valley.