Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan Are NYPD Detectives in "Cop Out"

Kevin Smith makes a rare journey into mainstream comedy with "Cop Out," the latest film where two police detectives argue like an old married couple. Although it could have been a comedic disaster, Smith's direction makes this film a fun little escape from the problems of the world.

Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan play Jimmy Monroe and Paul Hodges, two New York City police detectives who have been partners for 9 years. Paul fancies himself a bit of an actor and always wants to play the "tough cop" during interrogations, but Jimmy thinks his acting skills need more polish. Still, their teamwork usually gets results.

A robbery sets of a comedic chain of events during "Cop Out"

After a sting operation goes bad, however, their commander suspends this less-than-dynamic duo, forcing Jimmy into a real cash crunch. Hoping to contribute nearly $50,000 to his daughter's wedding, Jimmy sells a rare baseball card, one that his father had passed on to him. Unfortunately, while he's at the collectibles store, thieves break in and steal the rare card off the counter.

This robbery sets off a chain of events that pits Paul and Jimmy against a ruthless drug kingpin as well as two other police detectives (Kevin Pollak and Adam Brody) who would love to see them permanently off the force.

Kevin Smith doesn't use his own material for "Cop Out"

Director Kevin Smith does his best work when he's using his own screenplays, which is why "Cop Out," though funny, falls short of the target. The script by Robb and Mark Cullen is pretty top heavy with characters and subplots, making it a little hard to follow at times. The usually hilarious Jason Lee, a regular in many Kevin Smith productions, even gets stuck with a small, thankless role in "Cop Out."

This buddy comedy works best when the focus is strictly on Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan. The Jimmy Monroe character is a grizzled NYPD veteran, but Paul is a bit excitable, especially when it comes to his family life. In one hilarious scene, Morgan gets to show his comedic chops when he imitates various classic movie cops, including Bruce Willis' "Die Hard" character.

Seann William Scott from the "American Pie" movies also gets a chance to chew up the scenery in "Cop Out" as a small-time burglar who delights in verbally tormenting Paul. Jimmy, on the other hand, has no patience for this would-be thief, taking him for a drag behind the police car to shut him up.

Overall, "Cop Out" is goofy fun that could have been better with a Kevin Smith script. Still, this comedy, while not an award-winner, is a pleasant weekend diversion.

"Cop Out," rated R for pervasive language including sexual reference, violence and brief sexuality, currently is playing in theaters.