Who knew that Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, and Nick Mohammed would make a riotous comedy trio? Produced by the director of the last three Jurassic World movies, Colin Trevorrow, who also serves as one of its writers, along with three others. The plot lends itself well to comedy, a London improv teacher and her two misfit students get recruited by a rogue cop to infiltrate the mob.
Howard has proven herself to be a versatile performer, and she’s been leaning into her comedic chops as she did in Argylle, thankfully with much better material this time. We first see Kat as an improv coach who, despite her talent, still hasn’t landed her big break. Bloom is hilarious as Marlon, an intense method actor whose only notable role is playing the Pizza Knight in TV commercials. He assumes the role of the muscle man, but soon realizes being a tough guy is no walk in the park. Meanwhile, Mohammed plays the timid office IT guy Hugh, who enrolls in improv classes to enhance his small talk at the office.
Marlon and Hugh are the two misfits who end up in Kat’s class when she needs to gather people for her undercover mission. So they become the unlikely trio: Bonnie, The Brains! Roach, The Muscle! The Squire…Squire! As a Lord of the Rings fan, I find it extremely amusing to see a Legolas and Boromir reunion. Sean Bean shows up as a shady detective, Billings sporting his natural Yorkshire accent. He convinces Kat that he’s part of a special undercover unit that employs improv actors to sneak into illegal smuggling operations and gather intel.
As the only American in the entire movie, Kat’s quick thinking often saves the day. The bit about selling the Albanians their own cocaine is a hoot. Of course, they’re way over their heads the deeper they dive into the criminal underworld, and the mission turns out to be more perilous than they thought. The scene where Hugh has to snort coke to ‘test the product’ is a riot, definitely one of the comedic highlights. I also love the ‘yes… and’ scene in the store. Mohammed is fantastic in Ted Lasso, so I’m glad to see him in more projects.
The supporting cast keeps getting better! Paddy Considine is great as Fly, a mid-level heroin distributor, a typical scrappy thug with a conscience who wants out of the gangster life. Somehow, this motley crew manages to not only gain access to Fly but also win his trust. Ian McShane is pretty much typecast as the gangster type, but he’s always a joy to watch whenever he appears. Japanese-born Brit Sonoya Mizuno is unrecognizable as Fly’s right-hand woman, Shosh. The romance bit between Shosh and Hugh is amusing, even if entirely unconvincing.
I always love movies about down-on-their-luck folks who somehow get the opportunity of a lifetime to reverse course, and this one also doubles as a buddy comedy trio. It gets more preposterous and risible as it goes on, but Tom Kingsley’s direction is quite lively, and he gets plenty of mileage out of this cast. This is my intro to Kingsley’s work, who won a BAFTA for his comedy series Stath Lets Flats starring Jamie Demetriou. One of my all-time fave British comics, Omid Djalili has a memorable cameo, though I wish he had more screen time.
There are touches of Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz and some of Guy Ritchie’s British gangster comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels or Rocknrolla, albeit far less violent. Some of the scenarios stretch credulity, but it never descends to slapstick humor or visual gags a la the Naked Gun franchise (though if you’re into that, its reboot with Liam Neeson is coming later this Summer). Filming on location in London brings proper grit that conveys a sense of looming danger. Daniel Pemberton has been busy–I enjoyed his score in this one, which is as different as it can get from the jazzy one he did for Materialists.
Deep Cover might not be a comedy classic of the decade or anything, but it’s an enjoyable popcorn action flick worth watching at home. This is an Amazon Prime Original. Sometimes a made-for-streaming movie can be as good as those playing in the cinemas.
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I might check this out. The talent is stacked and Orlando Bloom is funny. I totally recommend watching him in Tour de Pharmacy about the infamous 1982 Tour de France.
Ohhh I haven’t even heard of Tour de Pharmacy! I gotta look that up now. This is a fun one and the cast doesn’t disappoint.
It’s on MAX. It also stars Freddie Highmore, Andy Samberg, John Cena, Daveed Diigs, James Marsden, Mike Tyson, Dolph Lundgren, Kevin Bacon, Julia Ormond, Jeff Goldblum, J.J. Abrams, and a special appearance from Lance Armstrong as an anonymous figure about the scandals that goes on in Tour de France. It is hilarious.
You suck Gustav! You can’t ride fast! WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY! Gustav, can you ride fast? FUCK YOU!!!! RACE BEGINS NOW!!!!!
Hey Flixy, looks like this is great! And thanks for letting us know where you watched it (Prime Video). There’s so many ways to watch it’s a maze to search out where you can see a film these days 😉
Hey Becky! Yeah I could sit for nearly an hour trying to find something to watch on streaming, so nice when a good one comes along. I think you’ll enjoy this one!
I saw the promo of this one popping up every time I opened Prime app. I’ll give it a watch when I’m in the mood for a comedy.
I’m always in the mood for comedy, esp. British comedy! Do you like Lord of the Rings? If so then you’ll get a kick out of seeing Orlando and Sean here.
That cast has me very curious
The cast is great!! Watch it, it’s a fun one!
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Sounds fun, Ruth. Thanks for the review!
I would def watch it in the next few days, but I don’t have Prime.
I’ll just have to wait until next year’s Emmy viewing platform is up.
I need some laughs right now. Suggestions? I have Disney+, Netflix, Tubi, and more , but not Apple TV or Prime.
Yeah, everyone could use a good laugh right now, you’re so right!! I’ll think of some good ones on those platforms you have… I rarely open Tubi though. I have been enjoying Dept Q on Netflix, it’s a crime drama but has some comedic moments and it’s VERY good!!
Btw, did you see my comment on your latest post? https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/2025/06/19/daisy/#comment-62990 I understand you got a TON of comments, so easily missed. XOXO ❤ ❦ ♡ ♥
I’ll be watching Dept. Q!
I look forward to your suggestions on funny.
I did miss your comment,😶🌫️😳 but have answered it now! 🙃🤗
Adore you!
XOXOXO
No worries about the comment! I just wanna make sure you saw it, darling 😘
Yes, do watch Dept Q!! I’m about halfway through and I can’t get enough. LOVE Matthew Goode, finally he got a meaty role to show that he’s more than a pretty face.
Adore you too!! XOXO
I watched 2 episodes tonight! I’m hooked!
XOXO
Love it!! Great minds think alike 🤗 I LOVE the Akram character, the one from Syria, he keeps getting better and better!!
I was thinking that after only 2 episodes.
The paralyzed cop was given the case folder. I’m hoping he gets to use his mind, find some clue and feel some worth.
I just finished the entire season!! So good!! I love Akram and I hope we get a second season so we get to see more about his backstory in Syria.
Yeah, the paralyzed cop Hardy lives up to his name too, love that character as well.
We’re on episode 5 now!
It’s really exciting. The hour episodes feel like 20 minutes!
I’m liking Rose a lot, too!
Yes, adore Rose!! I know, I wish the episodes were longer and that there are more episodes, like 15 at least! I really hope Netflix would renew it soon.
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