Let’s be Cops: Fake Cops, Real Trouble, no Consequence

No, let's NOT be cops

A disorganized version of 21 Jump Street, Let’s be Cops couldn’t be more poorly timed with the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri.  The film follows two 30 something men named Ryan and Justin as they pretend to be cops as a means to exert power and retain a warped vision of their rigid masculinity.  Though the film is not racially charged it is a clear presentation of pop culture maleness.  In deconstructing the social definitions of manhood presented in this film, it can reveal a small fraction of the toxicity of hegemonic masculine existence that can lead to a disproportion of man on man violence.   

First thing we learn about manhood is that either you are a jobless has been (Ryan) or completely diffident in the job you have (Justin).  Both scenarios expect men to be aggressive and assertive.  Dominating other men within the workforce determines your ascribed status of maleness.  When Justin, a game designer, is pitching his idea for a game his boss ignores him to show a pornographic image – “Check out this girl’s pussy.” – To an employee.  That is sexual harassment on top of being highly inappropriate, but what is determined is that men not only must take the lead (the boss later takes over the presentation and Justin is established as an inept character) but their sexual desires must have total disregard of female agency. “Real men” are established only through their predator-like ability to achieve many conquests.    

Not being a “real man” in a toxic patriarchal society means being potentially bullied by other men. Within the first 30 seconds of the film it’s very clear that Justin is a timid man who – like many of us – has difficulty speaking to someone he likes.  But by not being domineering or rapacious Ryan bullies him by calling him a “pussy.” Somehow the word pussy is associated with weakness, and in our society this is the worst thing to call a man.  It is not only a pejorative word to use, but completely sexist in nature.  Yet, this word is repeated on several occasions throughout the film by men who want to dismantle the masculinity of other men by associating them with a female anatomy. 

This level of emasculation is important to understand because it is constantly blamed on feminism or the “feminization” of men – where the logic is that giving space and agency to women creates a “softer” and less rugged type of man, which counters every definition men have created for themselves – but the reality is that feminism – and in turn, feminists – are giving society the chance to recognize how much sexism hurts men as much as it hurts women.  On the surface, telling men that their value is in domination, sexual promiscuity, and wealth appears to be favorable, but it is a privilege of power that leaves no room for young boys to grow into decent human beings.  The “boys will be boys” mentality keeps men forever puerile, incapable of seeing beyond their copy of playboy.  This is how our culture creates violence in men; violence is not an inherent or intrinsic behavior.  It is the product of social construction, and Let’s be Cops is a reflection of social norms. 

Ryan and Justin’s antics lead them, moreover, to impersonating police officers, and by putting on police uniforms the two protagonists transform from “losers” to buddy cop bro dudes that abuse the power that comes from being perceived as authority figures.  They are suddenly above the law, and able to manipulate unsuspecting civilians. By portraying the main characters as failures, and subsequently giving them privilege by wearing a uniform, one thing becomes very clear: Men in the position of power emasculate other men, and later threaten violence in order to maintain dominance. In this way the toxic patriarchal norm is also maintained, and violence becomes the essential ingredient to developing a strong backbone for men, particularly these two men.   

In what I call the most egregious violation of a human being, the character Pupa (Keegan-Michael Key) verbally assaults Josie (Nina Dobrev) in a sexual manner.  Josie is called upon to help the men transform Justin into Pupa with her artistic makeup skills so that he may go undercover. But rather that being that, her character becomes a vessel in which Pupa violates her.  He literally tells her to her face that he wants to “put his penis inside of her vagina.” To some people that would be funny, but the reality of it is not so funny. If a man I did not know said that to my face I would feel gross, but for some reason film writers continually write female characters that remain silent – almost oblivious – to the fact they are being violated by men (same scenario with April O’Neil on TMNT). 

Let’s be Cops perpetuates the same theme over and over again: the ability to get away with the worst behaviors possible. It may appear to be a bromance film, and in many ways it is, but it is a bromance film that condones bad behaviors with no real consequence.   The concern in watching the film goes beyond the childish comedic tone, and into its lack of accountability.  In the end the two men experience no severe consequences for their actions because officer Segers (Rob Riggle) simply vouches for them – Justin becomes a successful gamer and Ryan become a police officer; a very disturbing reality that many can resonate in Ferguson.  Ryan had the most unhinged characteristics and a desire to prove his manhood that it often leads him and Justin to go too far.  I found myself saying “thank god he’s not a real cop,” but of course the film ends with Ryan graduating from the police academy – how many Ferguson police officers are just like Ryan? In Justin’s case, he had lied to the woman he liked – Joise – but in the end, all he had to do was simply apologize for his insensitive behavior and he – the usually bashful and geeky man child – would win the hot girl of his dreams.  This film is what I call, the average Joe’s wet dream; getting away with the most ridiculous stunts in order to test their manhood with no real consequence and still getting what they want.   

If you are not a fan of Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. from their New Girl gig then this film might be best seen on DVD. There is nothing inspiring about a tired narrative of two bro dudes learning to love each other by being fake cops.