Kevin Smith is something of an auteur. Whether you like what he does or not, there's no denying that the man makes Kevin Smith movies in the Kevin Smith style. From his debut movie, Clerks, to the likes of Chasing Amy and Mallrats, Smith's movies are unique and personal in their execution, crammed with his own idiosyncratic observations about life. That's not to say they're all particularly good - just that Smith doesn't compromise who he is because he's in the need of some cash. Oh, wait. What about Cop Out, you say? What better name is there for a movie directed by somebody who has clearly agreed to do so for monetary purposes than "Cop Out"? Yes, for some reason, back in 2010, Smith decided - for the first time, it should be noted - to direct something that he himself did not write. The results, as you probably imagined, were downright awful: Cop Out starred Bruce Willis and Tracy Jordan as a mismatched cop duo and... blah blah blah. The critics rallied against the movie for crimes against comedy, wondering why Smith had even bothered with it. Because, let's face it: nobody goes to a Kevin Smith movie for the direction. They go for the dialogue. What was the point of his being behind the camera here, except for the man needing some work? And now Cop Out stands amidst his otherwise very personal filmography as an inessential and embarrassing oddity.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
