Cop or Hood

I definitely watched this classic with Jean-Paul Belmondo as a young kid (many scenes came back to me upon a second viewing), but revisiting it after all these years was definitely worthwhile. Cop or Hood is undoubtedly one of the better entries in J-PB’s repertoire, offering a surprisingly engaging plot that primarily showcases the talents of this legendary French actor, who seems to have been born for situational comedy. Prepare for plenty of belly laughs; even after all these years, the delivery of the jokes is flawless. Even as a member of the younger generation, I’m entertained by this 40-year-old film, which is quite a statement. As I mentioned, the plot is quite well-thought-out for its time, though there are occasional minor flaws in the script, but these can be easily forgiven. I give it a well-deserved 78%. (02/10/2020)

Once again it was confirmed to me that the strongest aspect of all Belmondo movies is Belmondo himself. The classic motif of a tough cop with no respect for the rules fits similar films like a glove and Lautner's blend of comedy with serious crime is top-notch, but I can't help it, without Belmondo's sly smile it would have a bit pointless. This is not to say that I didn't like Cop or Hood, on the contrary, after a slightly awkward opening I got exactly the portion of smart entertainment I was expecting before watching it. But compared to other great Belmondo flicks, this one was a tad weaker. That said, the 4* are mandatory. (11/10/2012)

Do you know what qualifications a good police commissioner should have for the job? He should have no problem driving his car into an apartment, burning down a restaurant or blowing up a house. That’s what Belmondo did. Our Interior Minister has something to think about. (06/01/2002)