Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Copshop Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 5, 2022

Joe Carnahan, who has directed some solid-enough films like Smokin' Aces, The A-Team, and The Grey, turns his attention to the world of brutally violent police station shoot 'em ups with Copshop, a symphony of madmen and mayhem and bloody and (borderline) cinematic excess when some hitmen finagle their way, and some weapons, into the inside for a blood-soaked carnival of bullet-based bloodletting. The film feels rooted in pulpy 70s tones but is built with modern sensibilities. It's relentless, a little long and a little much, but when the mood calls for over-the-top violence and characterization, it's pretty well hard to beat.

When Teddy Murretto (Frank Grillo) punches police officer Valerie Young (Alexis Louder), he's taken into custody. That also means the man out to kill him, Bob Viddick (Gerard Butler), has no choice but to feign drunkenness and disorderly conduct to get into the station and get his shot at his target. He creates a smoky diversion and all hell breaks loose. Bloodshed. Explosions. A treacherous cop. A psychotic hitman. It's going to be a long and bloody night of misdirection and misfortune for anyone caught in the crossfire.

If Copshop is anything it's unabashedly violent, a parade of gunfire and explosions and all sorts of mayhem taking place in fairly tight quarters where guns are plentiful but, by the end, ammunition is running so low that scavenging a few rounds here or there becomes of paramount importance. So, it's that kind of movie, but it's that kind of movie done particularly well, a film that puts all its chips into the action and only focuses on the ancillary character development stuff as it's needed, which can be fairly frequently but always in support of the big picture run and gun antics. The film certainly knows its place, knows its audience, and knows its stuff, at least well enough to prioritize as it needs to prioritize and support as it needs to support. And, surprise, the film actually manages to hammer home some interesting dramatic points and character details along the way. It's impressive what happens when a film doesn't force overwrought content in support of the action. For as over the top as it may be, Copshop always feels organic and grounded as it builds itself towards a number of violent interludes because they deeply involve the characters in some way beyond surface level. The film refuses to simply wrench in characters because somebody has to pull the trigger, which seems to be the M.O. in so many other films.

The performances are solid. That the script tasks the actors to play it more or less down the middle with only sparse humor and gunplay aplenty while still giving them enough to do without a stuntman involved seems to elevate everyone's game. The level of involvement seems just right as the actors must approach the script from a more grounded place, so even as the action is intensified and multiplied, they're still approaching it from a place that tasks them to consider something more than a cool pose or how to properly handle a firearm. Grillo and Butler play well off of one another and share some of the best scenes, which actually don't involve gunplay, when the story is just starting to ramp up and the plot details that will lead to the second and third act gunfire maelstrom are being explored. Toby Huss is wonderful as the psychotic killer, and Alexis Louder commands the screen as the film's six-shooter-wielding hero.

Copshop Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Universal brings Copshop to Blu-ray with a solidly performing 1080p transfer. The digitally photographed motion picture translates quite well to this format, here boasting high yield detail output, particularly evident on facial close-ups but boasting clear, well-defined textures throughout the experience, such as on various police officer uniforms and the small bits of wear on holsters and belts and things of that nature, and of course along all of the varied surfaces seen throughout the police station itself. There's nothing here that's soft or smudgy or challenged in any way. Color output fares similarly well. Tones are bold and bright and vivid, particularly red blood contrasted against the various surfaces around the station, and on police officer clothes. Black levels are solid, skin tones appear even and a natural delight, and whites are suitably crisp and efficient. The picture shows no signs of serious source noise even in low light and the encode handles the material nicely, even in challenging scenes like a steamy bathroom later in the film where banding might have run rampant under lesser parameters. Overall, this is a very nice-looking image from Universal.

Copshop Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Copshop's shoot 'em up antics arrive on Blu-ray with a stellar DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The 5.1 track is a treat. It's big, it's detailed, it's not at all timid or held back. The opening title sequence springs to life with thriving intensity, high yield clarity, plenty of surround activity, and a healthy low end support component. It perfectly sets the stage for the chaos to come, controlled chaos as it were with the track well capable of handling the nearly incessant gunfire, explosions, thumps, cracks, shattering glass, and all sorts of frenzied action elements with extraordinarily precision placement and clarity excellence. Such things explode all around the listener; the track plays huge with practically alarming intensity, particularly for the loud, crisp, and adrenaline packed gunfire that sings throughout the movie. Support ambience is well defined, whether light details or loud helpers like a blaring alarm klaxon heard at the 30-minute mark. Dialogue is clear and precise as it flows from a natural front center position. It is also well prioritized even in the highest of intensity action scenes. This one's an exciting, expertly engineered treat that doesn't hold back.

Copshop Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Copshop contains no supplemental content. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

Copshop Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cop Shop ultimately adds up to a whole lot of nothing, but it's still a whole lot of fun. The movie keeps things relatively simple but twists the plot just enough to keep things interesting yet still relatively straightforward. It's a movie made to adhere to formula while tweaking along the edges to find just enough character and entertainment value to matter. This is a great example of R-rated brainless entertainment. Universal's Blu-ray is unfortunately featureless, but the video and audio presentations are right on the money. Recommended.