Cop And A Half Parent Guide

Burt Reynolds stars with Norman D. Golden II in a comedy about a young boy named Devon Butler, who spends all his waking hours conducting surveillance on unsuspecting neighbours.

One evening, he wanders off to play out his favourite fantasy of being a police officer, and witnesses a gruesome gang murder. When police arrive on the scene, Devon informs them he witnessed the murder, but refuses to give details until they come to his terms. Finally, after many hours of trying to get the boy to supply information, the department chief grants him his wish. He receives cop-for-a-day status, and is assigned to grumpy officer Nick McKenna (Reynolds) who should have been fired from the force long before Devon arrived.

Like many movies today, this is one of those films that tries to make a comedy out of elements that are too serious to be laughed at. Devon is the picked on boy at school, with a mean principal who has no interest in children. He lives with his sweet grandmother who has to work during the evenings, leaving him home by himself, with a lady across the hall to contact in case of emergency.

This is another children know best movie, where the schools, police, criminals, and parents are all at the mercy of the child. It shows a world where children cannot really trust anyone, a world where police are clowns, and school administrators are heartless. It is difficult to find humour in a situation where an eight year old is subjected to a horrendous murder, neglected by his guardian, and taken into a striptease bar by a police officer. I recommend investigating other options on the video shelf.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.