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Butler's 2009 thriller “Law Abiding Citizen” is experiencing new popularity on Netflix. “Copshop” is a good companion piece to “Law Abiding Citizen” as it deals with similar themes. Despite the similarities, “Copshop” is more entertaining than “Law Abiding Citizen” and has received better reviews.
Despite initially receiving lukewarm reviews from critics, Gerard Butler's 2009 revenge thriller Howl of Justice has found a new fanbase on Netflix, with many fans exploring the 54-year-old actor's past work for similar films. Howl of Justice, in which Butler plays the deeply flawed and undoubtedly villainous vigilante Clyde Shelton, is one of Butler's most brutal films, offering a unique perspective on violence and the broader justice system. But while it certainly stands out in his resume, it's not a Gerard Butler-specific project.
Though the stories are very different in some ways, the 2021 film Cop Shop is actually a perfect accompaniment to Law & Justice. The two projects both star Gerard Butler and, while there are superficial differences, they also share some important similarities, and the films also deal with important core themes. While the return of Law & Justice on Netflix may be somewhat unexpected, it's a welcome reminder that this is not just an isolated episode in Gerard Butler's career.
Cop Shop is another film with a flawed protagonist starring Gerard Butler.
Clyde Shelton and Bob Vidic look strikingly similar
At first glance, there may not seem to be much connecting Clyde Shelton with Cop Shop's Bob Vidic. Whereas Shelton is cold, determined, cynical about the legal system and broken by his harrowing experiences, Vidic is an overall lighter, more interesting character. A hired hitman with a penchant for violence, he revels in the carnage he plots in Cop Shop (while holed up in a police station, he goes head-to-head with other hit men to win the contract to kill Frank Grillo's Teddy Mallett). But in terms of Gerard Butler's career, there is an important contrast between the two roles.
“Copshop” is available to rent on AppleTV+.
Butler's resume is largely dominated by archetypal heroic figures. Whether it be Leonidas in the graphic novel adaptation of 300 or the chiseled Secret Service agent Mike Banning in Has Fallen, Butler has built a reputation for playing straightforward, action-packed protagonists. Both Copshop and Law Abiding Citizen challenge this stereotype. In both films, Butler plays more morally nuanced characters who take on antagonistic roles in the story. Shelton and Vidick take different approaches to this archetype, but each performance highlights Butler's remarkable flexibility. For fans of his work, both films offer important variety.
“Copshop” and “Law Abiding Citizen” tackle similar themes (but in very different ways)
They address the issue of flawed justice
Aside from portraying Gerard Butler as the more villainous character, Cop Shop and Lord of the Law share important thematic connections. Both films, in their own way, deal with issues of corrupt justice, vigilante violence, and extrajudicial retribution. In Lord of the Law, Shelton's mission is personal, driven by grief over the murder of his wife and daughter. In contrast, in Cop Shop, Butler works as a professional hitman and his interest in the case is purely transactional. But despite these different perspectives, both films deal with similar issues.
Law Abiding Citizen has voiced similar concerns, saying Shelton's campaign would clash with every aspect of justice…
In Cop Shop, for example, it quickly becomes clear that Alexis Louder's Val Young is one of the few honest cops on the case, which leads her to question her faith in the system she is sworn to uphold. Law Abiding Citizen speaks to similar concerns, as Shelton's struggle brings him into conflict with all sides of justice, from the man who killed his family to the lawyer who failed in his job. As a result, Jamie Foxx's Nick Rice comes to question his own views on how justice is administered. In this way, the two films highlight how noble ideals can quickly be compromised under the right circumstances.
Police are far superior to law-abiding citizens
More effective by almost every criterion
These similarities make Lawbreaker and Cop Shop an interesting double bill. But while the connection between the two makes for interesting analysis, there are clear differences in quality. As a work of pure entertainment, Cop Shop far surpasses Lawbreaker. While both films feature somewhat ridiculous premise, Cop Shop somehow feels more realistic and believable, with well-realized characters and engaging dialogue and acting. This is reflected in the film's impressive score of 82% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
movie
Rotten Tomatoes Score
Box Office Revenue
law abiding citizen
26%
$127.9 million
Police Station
82%
$6.8 million
In contrast, reviews of Lawless Citizen often call the film bleak and messy. Not only is the film incredibly violent, but its interesting commentary on the limits of justice is lost in a mostly implausible plot that ultimately undermines the message it's trying to convey. There are still plenty of defenders of the film, as Lawless Citizen's success on Netflix proves. But when it comes to a purely entertaining action movie that speaks to broader issues of injustice while showcasing Gerard Butler's potential as a villain, Cop Shop is far superior.
law abiding citizen
3.0
Director: F. Gary Gray
Release date: October 16, 2009
Running time: 109 minutes
