Copshop ★★★

Joe Carnahan

Starring Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder, Toby Huss, Chad L. Coleman, Ryan O'Nan

Gerard Butler stars in this pulpy action set almost entirely within a small jail in the Nevada desert. From the first minute to the last we are treated to bonkers set pieces and fun action that will adorn late-night movie slots on terrestrial tv for years to come.

The first twenty minutes are all about the set-up. Teddy Murretto (Frank Grillo) attacks a rookie officer, Valerie Young (Alexis Louder) to get himself locked up. He’s hiding from a lethal hitman Bob Viddick (Butler) but, as you can probably guess, Bob Viddick finds a way to join Teddy in a nearby cell to complete his hit mission.

From there on in things go from fun to absolute nonsense pretty swiftly. Depending on your mood and your inclination for action, you’re probably going to switch off or dive-in head-first. There’s plenty on offer to keep you entertained, with the very nature and style of the movie lending itself to a laugh out loud night in.

The direction and editing are inventive and the whole thing feels a bit edgier than you would expect. The standout though is Alexis Louder who really holds everything together. She is full of energy and commits fully to her role as the rookie officer who’s much better than everyone else. Expect more from Alexis in the future.

An old school throwaway punching above its weight, if you don’t take this too seriously, you’ll have a blast.

Copshop available in cinemas now