It looks like it’s going to be just another uneventful day for the cops working the night shift at the Gun Creek, Nevada police department. That is, until rookie officer Valerie Young (Alexis Louder) responds to a disturbance outside of a casino, where she is sucker-punched by con man Teddy Murretto (Frank Grillo), who appears to be trying to get arrested on purpose. Young is suspicious of Murretto’s motives, especially when she sees that he has had 22 arrests and no convictions, and eagerly wants to know why he was trying to get thrown in jail. Murretto is being pursued by hitman Bob Viddick (Gerard Butler), who also manages to get arrested for DUI, and is put in a neighboring cell. Viddick has put together an elaborate plan to get his mark and escape. However, Young may be a rookie, but she wasn’t born yesterday. She has had Army training and may just be the brightest officer in the whole building. She doesn’t know who to believe, but she will stop at nothing to find the truth and make sure that justice is served. Meanwhile, there’s other mischief afoot inside and outside of the station that puts everyone in danger, especially with the arrival of psychotic assassin Anthony Lamb (Toby Huss), who’s also interested in cashing in on some contracts. As the situation escalates, nd chaos ensues, Officer Young must maintain her calm, and figure out who she can trust if she’s ever going to make it through this situation alive.
Copshop is fun, wild and explosive ride, with lots of quirky characters and great twists and turns to the story. Like Young, the viewer is constantly wondering who is telling the truth, trying to piece together the full story from the info that Viddick and Murretto reveal to the officer and while arguing amongst themselves. Murretto oozes con man with his 3-piece suit and slicked-back hair tied into a man bun. What did he do to get a contract put out on him as well as his ex-wife and child? Even though he’s running scared, Murretto somehow remains cool, calm and collected, his mind constantly working on ways to work his charm and get out of this situation. Meanwhile, Viddick also has a way of maintaining his composure. He seems to always be thinking three steps ahead. He knows Murretto well and can anticipate his moves. It helps that the cops at the Gun Creek Police Department aren’t the brightest. However, he wasn’t anticipating the tough, inquisitive Officer Young. And Anthony Lamb is another wildly unpredictable wrench thrown into his plans.
The film does an excellent job of introducing and fleshing out these characters, making the audience invested in their stories. Grillo and Butler are great—their characters are far from friends, by know each other well, and there’s some humorous banter between them. It’s like watching a play or a trial as these two men argue back and forth, trying to convince Officer Young that they are the one that she should listen to. And once the action in the film kicks into high gear, both actors rise to the challenge. However, Alexis Louder is the true star and heart of the film, constantly commanding the screen. Officer Young is strong and confident, even if she has to fake it, and she never admits when she may be in over her head. At the same time, she also has a great, dry, sarcastic sense of humor, dishing out the quips and insults and holding her own against the male officers in the precinct as well as these two men in lockup. Toby Huss is an absolute hoot as Anthony Lamb. His antics constantly had me laughing, despite the fact that he’s a cold-hearted killer. Lamb has a charming Southern drawl, and is constantly cracking jokes, singing, etc. even when he’s adding to the body count.
Universal’s Blu-ray release looks and sounds great. The picture is pristine, with an excellent level of detail in surface textures and faces, especially in close-ups—such as the beads of sweat on Officer Young’s face as she tries to figure out her next move as the precinct comes under siege. The film itself has a bit of a green tone to it, lending a bit of a 60/70s action movie feel. The soundtrack and credits at the beginning and end also follow this same throwback aesthetic. The Dolby Atmos track makes nice use of the stereo and surround sound to put the viewer in the middle of the action and give a more immersive viewing experience. The surround channel is utilized for the score, such as the Mariachi music that opens the film. It is also noticeable when alarms are blaring inside the station, bullets are bouncing and ricocheting around the room, or just the general whir of the building in the basement holding block.
Unfortunately the disc included in this release is barebones and doesn’t contains any bonus material—when Copshop was released in theaters, Frank Grillo had complained that the film was a different cut that didn’t match the director’s original vision and I would have loved to have had seen a director’s cut option, or have some sort of behind-the-scenes commentary or featurette to delve into this. The release includes both a Blu-ray and a DVD disc, packed on either side of a standard HD keepcase placed inside a carboard slipcover, along with an insert containing instructions on how to redeem an HD digital copy of the film as well as Universal Rewards points.
What’s Included:
Film: (1:47:39)
- 1080p / Widescreen 2.39:1
- Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1, English DVS (Descriptive Video Service)
- Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
- 480i / Anamorphic Widescreen 2.39:1
- Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS (Descriptive Video Service)
- Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
- HD digital copy of the film, redeemable via Movies Anywhere or Vudu
- Universal All-Access Rewards Code (Offer may not be valid after 12/31/2025)
Code can be redeemed for points towards a free digital movie or other items in the Universal All-Access Rewards program. The selection of 5-6 free digital titles usually changes around the first of the month.
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Blu-ray:
DVD:
Digital (code may not be valid after 12/31/2022):
Extras:
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This release doesn’t include any bonus material.
Final Thoughts:
Copshop finds the perfect blend of humor and drama. It’s an action-packed thriller that will also have the audience laughing. The story is very cleverly written. Nothing feels wasted—there are seemingly small things introduced early on that ultimately pay off later in the film. There are also some fun callbacks to seemingly banal conversations to add some comedic punch-ups. Universal’s Blu-ray release looks and sounds great. It would have been a Highly Recommended for me had the disc actually included some bonus material. But the release still comes recommended based on the quality and entertainment value of the film itself.
