Sometimes, you attend a film screening and the movie isn’t quite what you anticipated. Occasionally, this can be a good thing, knocking you back on your heels and providing an unexpected jolt. However, it can be just as likely for the reverse to occur. This reviewer’s first impressions of Black and Blue suggested that the picture was a drama about a cop dealing with corruption on the job and taking a stand to fight injustice. While this is technically accurate, the film itself is much sillier and pulpier than one might have expected. In fact, it’s a cheesy action B-movie that is only bolstered somewhat by a strong lead performance.
Alicia West (Naomi Harris) is an ex-military war veteran who has moved back to her hometown and works as a rookie in the New Orleans police force. When she sees a shady narcotics officer Terry Malone (Frank Grillo) execute an associate and records it on her body cam, the protagonist realizes that she has accidentally uncovered a secret plot involving several policemen. With incriminating evidence on her person, West is immediately targeted by the squad and set up for the murder. A local gangster named Darius (Mike Colter) also demands retribution for the slaying and begins hunting her down. Determined to get the footage into the proper hands, West must survive attacks from all sides, asking old acquaintance/convenience store employee Milo ‘Mouse’ Jackson (Tyrese Gibson) for assistance.
As you might have guessed by now, this is not a heavy drama, but rather an action picture. It may not be a sequel, but viewers will have already seen these events hundreds of times, as the lead is set up for a crime they didn’t commit, must evade capture from scenery-chewing foes, and eventually prove their innocence. There are no surprises or twists here that will come as a shock to anyone. Thankfully, the movie is helped by star Harris, who imbues her character with a likably earnest if naïve streak, and can also fight when backed into a corner. And much of the supporting cast do the best with what they are given, even if their roles aren’t well developed (particularly the bad guys, who are as one-note as it gets).
Yet, while the protagonist is likable and it is exciting at times to watch her bolt down alleys and avoid gunfire, much of the film comes across as corny. There’s plenty of ridiculousness on display here as the lead emphatically states how no one has the right to get away with murder, then proceeds to shoot dead several of those pursuing her. The characters all take breaks between the bloodshed to loudly and openly discuss either the danger they are in, or detail the next step in their sinister plan (even towards the climax when many others are seemingly in their presence).
These increasingly preposterous episodes become more and more frequent as the film progresses. One supposes that the talks may have worked with a little more subtlety in the writing, but the exposition often comes off as stilted. And my goodness, it seems at times as if half of the dialogue features the term, body cam. Most of the snarling, screaming and shouting involves lines like, “Where is the body cam?” and, “Give me the body cam!” The expression is used so frequently that it eventually results in chuckles.
There are definitely important points to be made about the stresses of being a whistleblower in a tightly knit group of police officers, not to mention issues like racial profiling and criminal activity within the force. However, this movie isn’t interested in doing much more than giving these issues a passing mention and then focusing on the shoot-outs and chase scenes. These bits are entertaining in the moment, but if you’re looking for action with a little more depth, Black and Blue will leave you unsatisfied.