Showtime

A 2002 American action comedy parody directed by Tom Dey, the film satirizes the buddy cop genre. The story follows two Los Angeles police officers: the serious and experienced Detective Mitch Preston (Robert De Niro) and the ambitious patrolman Trey Sellars (Eddie Murphy), who aspires to be an actor. After Mitch accidentally shoots a television camera during a failed operation, his superiors, aiming to avoid legal issues, agree to a proposal from TV producer Chase Renzi (Rene Russo) to create a reality show about police work, featuring Mitch and Trey as the main stars. Reluctantly, Mitch collaborates with Trey, who eagerly embraces the spotlight. Their contrasting personalities and approaches to law enforcement lead to numerous comedic situations, especially when they confront real criminals, including the dangerous arms dealer Caesar Vargas (Pedro Damian). The film mocks clichés of police action films and reality TV, highlighting how media can influence public perception of law enforcement. Despite a star-studded cast, including William Shatner as himself, the film received predominantly negative reviews from critics for its weak satire and predictable plot. It was nominated for two Golden Raspberry Awards: Worst Actor (Eddie Murphy) and Worst Screen Couple (Murphy and De Niro). The film had a budget of $85 million and grossed $77.7 million worldwide.