R.I.P.D: Top Film Cop Duos

13th January 2014

Next Monday sees the release of supernatural cop action-adventure R.I.P.D., which sees the spirits of former cops Nick (Ryan Reynolds) and Roy (Jeff Bridges) team up as partners in the Rest In Peace Department – the greatest police force ever assembled. With that in mind, we thought it was the perfect time to compile a round-up of our favourite film cop duos that could give Nick and Roy a run for their money.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Hot Fuzz follows the story of Sgt. Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg), an extremely dedicated police officer who is reassigned from inner city London to the ‘crime-free’ village of Sandford, Gloucestershire. He is partnered with Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), a nice but naïve young police officer who is in awe of Sgt. Angel. Everything seems quiet for Angel and Butterman, until two characters are found decapitated. Witty and exciting – Hot Fuzz is a must-see.

Miami Vice (2006)

Based on the hit TV series from the 1980s, Miami Vice tells the story of Detectives James ‘Sonny’ Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Ricardo ‘Rico’ Tubbs (Jamie Foxx) as they go undercover on an FBI operation. An informer, his family and two FBI agents have been killed by an international gang of drug dealers, and its Sonny and Rico’s mission to investigate the gang’s mysterious leader Archangel de Jesus. But it’s not as simple as it seems – the detectives struggle to keep their personal and professional lives separate. Miami Vice is filled with stunning camera work, intricate sequences and explosive action; everything you expect from a great Cop Duo film.

Lethal Weapon (1987)

Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) has just turned 50, and only has a few more years to go before he retires from the Los Angeles Police Department. Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) has just lost his wife in an accident, and doesn’t care if he lives or dies. When partnered, Murtaugh expresses disapproval over Riggs’ suicidal attitude towards work, as they investigate a drugs lord nicknamed “The General”. With four Lethal Weapon films made over a period of 11 years (1987-1998), it’s obvious that the initial film is a classic of its genre.

Bad Boys (1995)

American action comedy film Bad Boys stars Will Smith as Detective Mark Lowrey and Martin Lawrence as Detective Marcus Burnett. Best friends and detectives in the narcotics division of Miami Police Department, the pair have 72 hours to recover $100million of seized heroin that was stolen from a secure police vault. Things become complicated when the detectives are forced to switch identities in order to get a murder witness to cooperate. Guns, explosions, more guns and more explosions; Bad Boys is an action packed ride.

2 Guns (2013)

The newest film in our top 10 cop duos, 2 Guns, takes a different angle from the other films on our list. Robert Trench (Denzel Washington) is an undercover DEA agent, and he assists Michael Stigman (Mark Wahlberg) in stealing $3million from a mob boss in order to prosecute him for money laundering. However, it later transpires that Stigman is an undercover Naval Intelligence Officer, and he is under the orders of a corrupt naval plan to use the money to fund covert operations. The plot thickens, and eventually Stigman and Trench find themselves having to join forces as they are being blackmailed and hunted on both sides of the law.

Training Day (2001)

Jake Hoyt, a former security guard has applied for a Los Angeles Police Department position as a Narcotics officer. In order to be accepted in the Narcotics role, he must go through approximately 24 hours of training from a veteran Narcotics officer. Unfortunately for Jake, he is appointed to Alonzo Harris, an officer who has a nasty reputation for not treating victims’ very well, mistreating suspects, opening fire randomly, and handling drugs and other evidence in a suspicious manner. Although working together, Jake must watch his own back during his ‘Training Day’. Washington’s performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor at the 74^th Academy Awards. Training day is a must-see.

Starsky & Hutch (2004)

Another crime action comedy film, Starsky and Hutch is an adaptation of the original TV series of the same name from the 1970s. Two streetwise undercover cops in the fictional city of Bay City, California in 1975, catch drug criminals with the help of underworld leader, Huggy Bear. The film functions as a sort of prequel to the TV series, as it depicts when Starsky was first partnered with Hutchinson. The film also switches the personalities of the title characters. In the TV show, Starsky was curious and streetwise, and Hutch was straight laced whereas in the film, Starsky is the serious cop, and Hutch is laid-back. With Ben Stiller as Starsky and Owen Wilson as Hutch, you know you’re in for a comical ride.

Dragnet (1987)

Dragnet is another crime comedy film, starring Dan Aykroyd (Sgt. Joe Friday) and Tom Hanks (Detective Pep Streebek). It was based on the Television crime drama of the same name, which starred Jack Webb, who unfortunately passed away a few years before the release of the film. The two partners at first have conflicting personalities, but they bond over their first case. The pair investigates some strange robberies, including the theft of a lion’s mane, a wedding dress and many other random items. The only thing connecting the crime is that cards are left at each crime scene which read PAGAN. The partners connect the dots following a rollercoaster of strange and comical on-goings.

Men In Black (1997)

The adventures of two federal agent men Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) and Agent J (Will Smith) also known as “The Men in Black,” keep an eye on aliens in New York City, and must try to save the world after aliens have threatened to blow it up. Jay and Kay’s mission is to hinder the plot by tracking down the alien terrorist. A classic film of its genre; Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones deliver a fantastically entertaining performance.

Rush Hour (1998)

Cultures clash and tempers flares – two cops named Detective Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan), a Hong Kong Detective, and Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) FBI, a loud mouth work-alone Los Angeles cop, discover that they have one thing in common: they can’t stand each other. With time running out, they must join forces to catch the criminals and save the eleven-year-old daughter of Consul Han Solon.

Don’t miss R.I.P.D. as it explodes onto 2-disc 2D and 3D Blu-ray™ and DVD – both with UltraViolet™ on the 20^th January!

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