Kops

Review by Cathy Edsey Collins

for Reel Movie Critic

HHH

Cast

Fares Fares: Jakob

Torkel Petersson: Benny

Goran Ragnerstam: Lasse

Sissela Kyle: Agneta

Eva Rose: Jessica

Written and Directed by Josef Fares. An action comedy. From Sweden with English subtitles. Running time: 91 minutes

Leave your intelligence behind. This Swedish import isn't exactly an Ingmar Bergman film-hey, it's not even as suave as an Andrew Bergman film - but it sure is a goofy good time. Borrowing from a carload of American action flicks, "Kops" puts a spin on this cliche'-ridden genre by spoofing it, "Naked Gun" style.

Set in the sleepy town of Hogbotrask, where crime is non-existent, the four cops on duty keep busy eating sausage waffles, keeping cows out of flowerbeds, eating more sausage waffles, playing floor hockey, drinking coffee and arguing over what to call their two patrol cars. When Headquarters needs to trim the budget, they decide that this quiet outpost is prime for a cut, and they send comely blonde Jessica to deliver the bad news. The "kops" do not give in easily, however, and attempt to beef up the crime statistics in town by arranging some shoplifting, setting a hot dog stand on fire for a bit of arson and ultimately getting the village drunk to participate in a phony kidnapping. Things are further complicated because cop Jakob (Fares Fares, writer/director Josef Fares' cousin) put the moves on Jessica before anyone knew of her affiliation with Headquarters.

"Kops" borrows freely from U.S. action films like "Matrix" and "Die Hard" to garner laughs. At the movie's conclusion, it even turns their squad car into the time machine vehicle from "Back to the Future" and has it fly off into the distance. Sky-high flames fill the background screen as the "kops" strut in an action sequence ¾ a shot seen countless times in American-made films like "Die Hard" and "Con Air." As a nod to the innumerable car chases, that do not end realistically, "Kops" flips a patrol car multiple times to have it right itself unscathed.

Make no mistake, "Kops" is a piece of fluff film - an unexpected European import from a country that usually sends headier stuff. But this lighter-than-air confection is worth seeing for the performance of Torkel Petersson as Benny, the cop obsessed with American action heroes. His imitation of the testosterone-laden, gun-toting good guy, who mutters obscenities to the baddies, is worth the price of admission alone. And the fact that he knits headbands for his cohorts only makes it more hilarious.