Customer Reviews

Cop and a Half

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Subtle and engrossing film study on human interaction in the face of internal and external conflict. Nick McKenna (Burt Reynolds) must come to grips with a life-long intolerance rooted in agism and perhaps even racism when he is forced to partner up with young witness Devon Butler (Norman D. Golden II). Butler, a young African-American man in the south, has issues of his own to deal with, issues that a white male member of the police force could not possibly understand. His is a somewhat underwritten role, but the Black-White dichotomy is directed beautifully by upstart director Henry Winkler (Fonzie of television's "Happy Days"). Make no mistake, however, this is Reynolds' movie, and the part seems to be written for him. The adaptation that McKenna undergoes over the course of this film is on one level charming but also moving. The turbulent and violent finale is somewhat derivative of Kurosawa, but like his work it will stick with you for days.

Burt Reynolds dares once again to defy the constricts of genre, this time putting the cop-buddy motif on it's ear. He proves once again that he is one of the great character actors of our time. Newcomer Norman D. Golden II is sensational as Devon Butler. His role is to both provoke and nurture change in Reynolds' character. This is a tall order for a screen rookie, but it works. The chemistry that evolves, and the unspoken trust that it in turn provides, is well-paced and believable. If nothing else, this movie is as real as the complex human condition residing within all of us.

My only reservation in not giving this film five stars is that it was not allowed to be shot in the grainy black and white that Winkler had envisioned. The studio chiefs at Universal certainly missed out on this. As it stands, however, "Cop and a Half" truly embodies the gritty tough elements we've come to expect from this type of film, but does so in unconventional ways that will challenge any student of film.

Ideal for people who will watch anything with Burt Reynolds in it, or for anyone considering the pros and cons of hiring a mischievous child as a sidekick.

You have to question the judgement of reviewers such as Brooke 276 and Russell A Shiley who have given negative reviews to this classic piece of movie history. Perhaps they thought they were being funny giving negative reviews to an obviously excellent film? If the front cover, in which a small child is forcing the always excellent Burt Reynolds to wear some handcuffs as an amusing pair of comedy spectacles isn't funny enough in itself (it is) then nearly two hours of seeing why employing an 8 year old as a Los Angeles policeman would be a bad idea ought to be enough to convince even the most hardened cynic of the genius of this production. Go and buy this film now - you won't be disappointed!

I remember watching this movie when it 1st came out in theaters. It was a good movie then and it's a good movie now:) I had my kids watch Cop and a Half for the 1st time last year and it's mega favorite of theirs as well:) love it love it love it!

I'd like to give Russell A Shiley a piece of my mind for only giving this film 1 star. Have you ever made an action packed family comedy that all ages will enjoy Mr Shiley? ....I rest my case.

Well there has never been a finer movie ever made! The quality of scenes like the Twinkie fight of when Devon gets his head in the toilet are simply some of the most classic ever. And Burt Reynolds? Ooh, easily his best work to date. I love the grandma and especially Reynolds lump milk and his extremly "good aim"!

I loved this movie as a child and was thrilled to see Amazon had it at such a great price! It's just as good as I remember, and I still laugh out loud. I make all the kids I babysit watch it. I'm forever a fan!

I REALLY enjoy this movie. Little Devon Butler (played by Norman D. Golden II) gets bullied in school by two older guys whose favorite objective is to dunk him upside down into the toilet. Devon's favorite thing to do is play cop and dirtbag with his friend Ray Sanchez. Mr. Fleming is the school principal who thinks Devon is lying about the bullies and calls Devon's grandmother (his only guardian). Devon asks Fleming not to bother his grandmother (played by Ruby Dee) because she works hard as a nurse doing double shifts. This does not move Fleming who tells Devon "you will never learn and I will have done you a great injustice." Devon wants to be a cop so that he can take care of his grandmother. He makes sure she has her police whistle when she goes off to work.

One day Devon and Sanchez see a real detective, Nick McKenna (played by Burt Reynolds), apprehend a suspect by running him down with his car because he "hates to run" and Nick ties him to the car and makes him run alongside back to the police station. Devon is impressed with Nick.

One evening Devon follows the car of Nick's suspect to a warehouse where some small-time gangsters led by Mr. Falcon, a wannabe 50s singer, rub out the suspect. Devon is hiding in the rafters and witnesses his demise - AND Falcon's distinct shoes but not his face. Nick is on the case and Devon won't give any information to the police unless they make him a cop.

Devon ends up riding with Nick as they hunt down suspects. When the bad guys find out about Devon, Falcon visits his grandmother while posing as a new school counselor. Grandmother thinks this has something to do with Devon's antics at school. Falcon asks whether Devon recognizes him and Devon says no. Once Devon sees the shoes, he knows Falcon is a bad guy and yells for his grandmother when Falcon leaves, who overhears Devon.

Devon moves in with Nick for protection but Nick gets overwhelmed at the responsibility of caring for a kid so another cop who has kids gets Devon. The two are doing a radar trap and Fleming drives by 3 miles over the limit. Devon insists they stop him. The cop pulls over Fleming and Devon gets to issue the ticket. Fleming wants to explain his side to get out of the ticket but the 8-year-old with a badge repeats what Fleming told him at school: "you will never learn and I will have done you a great injustice."

Falcon's boys see Devon walking back to the police car and try to run him down with their car. Nick sees them aiming for him from a distance and runs to push Devon out of the way "just like Miami Vice." Nick and Devon are partners again and roust a biker bar. Nick asks around looking for their suspect Bobo while Devon is having "a milk ... in a dirty glass." Bobo gets away on a motorcycle.

The next morning Nick wakes up and finds Devon gone. Panicked, he runs outside asking if anyone's seen him. Up walks Devon who went to get donuts for breakfast. Nick yells at him for going off and Devon yells back that he doesn't want Nick to be his father or his partner and gets away from Nick. Devon ends up at school to get handcuffs from his locker and runs into the two bullies. Devon tells them that he is on police business. The bullies carry Devon to the playground and drops him into the sandbox as the other kids are coming out for recess. This time, Devon fights his way out using a technique he learned from Nick and handcuffs the bullies to the playground fence.

Along comes Falcon's boys to the school looking for Devon. Devon gets the schoolyard kids to create a diversion so he could get away. But, Devon hides in their car. When Sanchez calls Devon on the walkie-talkie, they discover him.

Falcon's boys take Devon back to the warehouse and Falcon where they plan to do away with him. Nick follows Bobo to the warehouse, bursts in and saves Devon and gets the crooks after a great boat chase. Devon, his grandmother and Nick live happily ever after.

This movie has good-hearted humor and a great story. It's one of those movies that everyone in the family can enjoy and one that I could watch over and over. The featurette on the making of the movie is also entertaining.

I didn't know what to expect when I read what the movie was about. I turned out to be one of my favorite Burt Reynolds films. The boy who plays Devon was fantastic. It is cute and entertaining.

I cannot emphasize how much I hated this movie. I knew it would be bad; so why did I watch it?! Sometimes I just have to find movies that I can put on my all-time worst list. This is an abjectly painful account of a pint-sized witness to a crime, who will give the police information in exchange for partnership with Burt Reynolds as a diminutive law enforcer. T.V.'s Webster has nothing on this kid in terms of "I'm-so-annoyingly-in-your-face-that-I'm-cute" syndrome. All the way through this paralyzingly awful movie we're subjected to lower-than-low juvenile humor; the nadir being when the kid and Reynolds play "crossing swords" with their urine over a toilet. God save us.