Almost Cops

Almost Cops begins with an immediately appealing premise: two emotionally devastated men are forced to team up to confront a conspiracy that runs deep within the very police force they once served. Set in the multicultural and often overcast streets of Rotterdam, the film attempts to blend the lightness of action-comedy with emotional pain and a personal sense of justice. But this mix doesn't always find the balance it needs.

The plot follows Ramon, a community-oriented, idealistic officer, and Jack, a former detective known for his controversial methods. Both have lost loved ones in the same mysterious attack and find themselves drawn into an off-the-books investigation that uncovers corruption and hidden agendas within law enforcement. The movie leans on the classic buddy-cop formula: the odd couple forced to work together as chaos escalates around them. At times, this setup delivers as promised—there’s fast pacing, occasional clever banter, and strong chemistry between the leads.

Jandino Asporaat and Werner Kolf bring energy and a natural rapport to their roles. Asporaat finds the right balance between Ramon’s idealism, grief, and barely contained frustration, making the character believable as someone who still trusts in the system despite his personal loss. Kolf plays Jack as the hardened, cynical ex-cop who’s rough around the edges but ultimately loyal. Their dynamic is the emotional core of the film. When the two are on screen together, the movie becomes more engaging, sometimes even touching in its portrayal of wounded masculinity and reluctant camaraderie.

What holds Almost Cops back is its indecision between drama and farce. The screenplay flirts with heavy topics like systemic racism, corruption, and grief, but rarely explores them in depth. These issues often serve as background noise, quickly overtaken by jokes that don’t always land. The villain is cartoonish in his evil, lacking the complexity needed to elevate the story’s stakes. The film wants to be both funny and serious, but struggles with the tonal shifts needed to support that duality.

Director Gonzalo Fernández Carmona shows technical command, especially in the action scenes—one foot chase through Rotterdam’s alleyways stands out for its sharp editing and inventive use of urban space. However, when it comes time to focus on character intimacy, the film falters. The grief that’s supposed to motivate the two leads is kept at arm’s length, as though the film is afraid to lean too hard into emotion, relying instead on irony and well-worn buddy-movie tropes.

Still, there are standout moments. A particular scene near the climax—where Ramon and Jack confront a key informant in a deserted parking lot at sunset—eschews comedy and violence. It’s just the two of them, alone with their pain, facing the truth. In this quiet, heavy silence, the film shows a glimpse of what it could have been if it had trusted its emotional depth more fully.

In the end, Almost Cops is functional entertainment. It doesn’t break new ground, but it might satisfy viewers looking for something light, fast-paced, and driven by charismatic performances. The lingering impression, however, is that with a bolder narrative and fewer clichés, it could have been something far more memorable.



Almost Cops (Bad Boa's, 2025 / Netherlands)
Direction: Gonzalo Fernández Carmona
Screenplay: Kenneth Asporaat, Joost Reijmers, Thomas van der Ree
Cast: Jandino Asporaat, Werner Kolf, Florence Vos Weeda, Ferdi Stofmeel, Ergun Simsek
Running Time: 95 min.