- Cop and a Half
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Cop and a Half 
Theatrical Release PosterDirected by Henry Winkler Produced by Paul Maslansky Written by Arne Olsen Starring Burt Reynolds
Norman D. Golden II
Ray Sharkey
Ruby DeeDistributed by Universal Pictures Release date(s) April 2, 1993 Running time 97 minutes Country United States Language English Box office $40,689,691 Cop and a Half is a 1993 American family film directed by Henry Winkler, and starring Burt Reynolds and Norman D. Golden II. Cop and a Half was actor Ray Sharkey's final film.
Contents
Synopsis
Devon Butler (Golden) is an eight-year-old in Tampa who dreams of being a cop. He watches police TV shows, knows police procedures and plays cops and burglars with his friend Ray. One day, while snooping around in a warehouse, he witnesses a murder. He goes to the police, who want the information, but refuses to give it unless they make Devon a cop. The police then team him with veteran cop (and child hater) Nick McKenna (Reynolds), and the two team up in a comic series of events to find the killer. The two eventually come to a mutual understanding in order to bring the killer to justice.
Main cast
- Burt Reynolds as Det. Nick McKenna[1]
- Norman D. Golden II as Devon Butler
- Bradley Pierce as Ray Mullen
- Ruby Dee as Rachel
- Holland Taylor as Captain Rubio
- Ray Sharkey as Vinnie Fountain
- Sammy Hernandez as Raymond Sanchez
- Frank Sivero as Chu
- Rocky Giordani as Quintero
- Marc Macaulay as Waldo
- Steve Zahn as Frank
- Florence Stanley as Mrs. Buzzi
- Harry Rooney as Principal
- Tom McCleister as Rudy
- Ralph Wilcox as Det. Matt McPhail
- Tom Kouchalakos as Det. Jenkins
- Maria Canals Barrera as Mrs. Bobo (as Maria Canals)
- The Nighthawk as Huncher
- Nathan McCallah as Turner
- C.T. Night "The Boss" as Carver
- Ossie Davis as Detective in Squad Room
- Michael Ensign as Bijo
Soundtrack
Joey Lawrence's "Nothing My Love Can't Fix for You" is used as the end title song.
Reception
The film received generally negative reviews from critics. It currently holds a 17% "Rotten" rating at the movie review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, where only two reviews out of the twelve polled are positive.[2][3]
Film critic and historian Leonard Maltin wrote, "A hemorrhoid-and-a-half to whoever sits through this abjectly painful comedy, which does for Burt Reynolds' career what Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot did for Sylvester Stallone's." Critic Gene Siskel also excoriated the film, seeing it as indicative of "artistic bankruptcy" on Burt Reynolds' part, and singling out Norman D. Golden II's performance as "awkward". Siskel later called it the worst movie of 1993. Siskel speculated that NBC thought little of the film when they aired it in its broadcast-network debut, pointing out that they scheduled it opposite the 1997 Super Bowl.[4] However, Roger Ebert gave the film a positive review, giving it a thumbs up. He also gave it a 3 stars and of a possible 4 saying "There isn't much that's original in "Cop and a Half," but there's a lot that's entertaining, and there's a winning performance by a young man with a big name, Norman D. Golden II, who plays little Devon Butler, a kid who dreams of someday wearing the shield."
Reynolds won the Razzie Award for Worst Actor for his performance, while Golden was nominated for Worst New Star.
Box office
The movie debuted at No.1.[5] In its second week it dropped to number 3.[6]
Awards
Norman D. Golden II was nominated for a Young Artist Awards in 1992–1993 for Best Actor Under Ten in a Motion Picture.[7]
Notes
- ^ "Florida Son Burt Reynolds Comes Of Age". Orlando Sentinel. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1992-06-29/lifestyle/9206280509_1_burt-reynolds-reynolds-plays-reynolds-today. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ^ Copy and a Half at RottenTomatoes.com
- ^ [1]
- ^ Gene Siskel. "The Joy of Watching 'The Joy Luck Club'" TV Guide; January 25, 1997; Page 18
- ^ "Weekend Box Office : 4 Oscars Give 'Unforgiven' a Boost". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1993-04-06/entertainment/ca-19747_1_weekend-box-office. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office : Filmgoers Accepting 'Proposal'". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1993-04-13/entertainment/ca-22210_1_weekend-box-office. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ^ "Fifteenth Annual Youth in Film Awards". Young Artist Awards. 1993. Archived from the original on 2009-03-11. http://74.125.77.132/search?q=cache:0of_xM2OnDAJ:www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms15.htm+young+artist+awards+org+cop+and+a+half&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nl. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
External links
Categories:- English-language films
- 1993 films
- 1990s comedy films
- Buddy films
- Universal Pictures films
- Imagine Entertainment films
- American comedy films
- Directorial debut films
- Films directed by Henry Winkler
- Films set in Tampa, Florida
- 1990s comedy film stubs
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