Space Cop

I'm sad to say that after all the anticipation, Space Cop is fairly underwhelming. It seems strangely uneven, unpolished. And most disappointingly, it's formulaic. I'd hoped for something wittier, more off-the-wall, more creative based on RLM's previous work. Space Cop gave me nothing to think about -- the clichéd plot points, double entendres, tired set-ups, bad models / costumes and archetype characters aren't there to be subverted or analysed, they're just there.

The music works very well, the sets are solid, there are lots of laugh-out-loud moments scattered through. But it's not confident in itself. It feels rushed.

The script in particular feels like a first draft. Motivations and relationships shift wildly from joke to joke - it's hard to understand what we're supposed to think of the characters or how Space Cop in particular is perceived by the others. Sometimes the tone is so muddied it's tricky to tell if a moment is going for humour, tension or drama. At one point the movie slows down so we can watch a striptease and take long, lingering looks at the actress' body. I kept waiting for the punchline, but amazingly it seems to just be there for titillation.

There are highlights. Rich Evans and Jocelyn Ridgely are funny and do very well in their roles. Mike Stoklasa appears to be deliberately hamming it up, which often doesn't 'fit' with the other actors but is enjoyably tongue-in-cheek in itself. The 'real' actors and cameos vary in skill but most are solid and some are great. Len Kabasinski of all people absolutely cracked me up. This movie could have been great.

Overall, Space Cop comes across as either lazy or stumbling. Mike, Jay and Rich have a lot of talent and creativity, but only some of it made it through the filming process on this one.

I was looking forward to this. As other reviewers pointed out, the film has its moments, but it does get tiresome. Particularly Mike's purposefully bad acting. The film really needed a normal person to make the most of Space Cop's flavour of movie script idiocy. The bartender did this, but that was a bit part.

I think the trailer had some of the best bits. I laughed at one of two jokes in the film, but I think it needs a tighter cut - which would certainly improve it, but perhaps not enough to earn more than my generous 6 stars.

With its current pacing, it plays almost as bad as an Adam Sandler movie. Almost.

Intentional schlock that has fun with itself and has a good character dynamic that could be worked into a serious movie and make it far better.

The only problem here is that because they are trying to be intentionally schlocky things get a bit too hammy. Fake bad acting and camera winks aren't as enjoyable as actual overacting and real attempts at coolness that are ridiculous. The Room wouldn't be The Room if it was done on purpose.

Overall if you are a fan fo RLM then there is something for you here, and the story is better than most other films of a similar budget, but it probably would have worked better if they had played the whole thing actually straight, rather than fake winky straight while always letting you know that they know how schlocky it all is.

The issue I have with Space Cop is that it seems to pull its punches.

Mike, Jay, and Rich come across brilliantly on RLM, but their films feel like a nod and a wink to their existing audience. That's understandable, and for the most part it works well, but I feel that these guys are talented enough to go all in on a legitimate film that isn't relying on their fan-base.

Space Cop is entertaining. The opening hostage situation is old school slapstick, but it works as a set-up. I loved the matter of fact way that Space Cop seamlessly finds himself working for the local police without any attempt to hide his character, and Mike's trench coat revived detective creates a perfect comical partnership. Unfortunately I'm not a big fan of the scripted stuff. Yes there are funny moments, but it never felt like the natural and spontaneous chemistry between Rich and Mike was given any room. A lot of the humour came from seeing funny and talented guys from RLM performing in a film, rather than funny and talented guys simply being funny and talented. Clearly they're not going to make an unintentionally bad film, but why not try to make a genuinely good comedy film. They should back themselves with a bit of confidence in their ability, instead of hiding behind the 'nudge nudge wink wink' approach.

I'd love to see them try their hand at a found footage horror. Mike, Jay, and Rich performing deadpan in one of those cliched door-slamming, forest-running, cellar-screaming set-ups would be a sight to behold.

As a huge fan of RLM I was really looking forward to this movie, but I was really disappointed.

It's not funny.

I really like their skits that they have done in the past(HITB&others), but this movie just isn't funny. I was kinda smiling in few parts and laughed twice, but yeah there is just so many missed jokes they could have done. I was writing a better movie in my head while watching it.

They clearly put a lot of effort in to making this movie and I'm not trying to dis them, but I suggest next time they should put much more effort in to the script than the sets and special FX.

They should try making some kind of down to earth comedy(clerks) rather than a high concept one because of their limited budget & crew.

And the acting/casting choices of Rich and Mike were just horrible. Mike should be the lovable cynic and Rich the wacky one not the other way around.

I hope in their next project they don't try to do these "wacky" voices and just speak in their normal voices.

4/10