Filmmaker Erik Canuel's bilingual Bon Cop, Bad Cop not only offers a shrewd but subtle commentary on Canada's dueling cultures, but is a darn good comic thriller to boot. The protagonists are both police detectives: Ontario's Martin Ward (Colm Feore) and Quebec's David Bouchard (Patrick Huard), who are thrown together when a body is found straddling the border between their respective provinces. With jurisdiction an open question, the pair are ordered by their bosses to work together on the case, which becomes increasingly complicated after the two realize they're up against a serial killer. While the leads' personal conflicts go beyond the cultural—Ward is not only uptight, but also operates very much by the book, while Bouchard is unconventional and prone to ignore rules and regulations—Bon Cop, Bad Cop does handle the culture-clash subplot far more intelligently (and much less artificially) than, say, the Rush Hour movies. It also provides excellent character actor Feore with a rare leading role. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
Bon Cop, Bad Cop
BFS, 117 min., in French & English w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $24.98, May 13 Volume 23, Issue 4
Bon Cop, Bad Cop
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