Cop and a Half: New Recruit (2017)

Waste of time

Nice effects though.

Lack of good storyline.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

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.

A bit shocked to watch a great actor such as Lou Diamonds Phillips in this kind of movie. To my taste it i a 4/10, I have seen much better family movies but from this point of view I would give a 5/10.It is OK overall. The drones are quite good and give an edge to the film.Lovely relationship between the two protagonists.

In the bonus track of the DVD for "Cop and a Half: New Recruit," the filmmakers described the project as a throwback to the 1980s "buddy cop" films now updated and revised with the latest technology for family entertainment. The energetic cast, including Wallace Shawn as the stodgy Principal Miller, helps to maintain the fast-moving pace of this light-hearted piece of fluff.The film was successful in creating the team of a beleaguered, "scruffy" detective (Lou Diamond Phillips) and a kid from the local Darville Middle School, who is an aspiring undercover cop. The little kid playing the role is great, and Phillips is perfect as the jaded detective in need of the kid's wherewithal and expertise in the new technology.There is an inventive theme to the kid's approach to detective work: "Don't panic. Just work the problem." The Americana that is depicted in the film is that of a Normal Rockwell painting. Except, in this case, there is a disgruntled law enforcement official calling himself the Badge Bandit, who beleaguers the town with pranks unleashed through drones to culminate with an embarrassing display set to occur during the Harvest Valley Festival.There is never any true danger, and there is great fun throughout the adventure. The one-liners and the gags are good. The kid knows all the cop lingo ("perp," "copy that," and "10-4, Cap"), and she also coins the word "ridonkulous" that seems like a perfect description of this inconsequential film experience as a whole.

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.