Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
is neutral about it.
This amiable, low-key blend of crime genre elements and humor is a sleeper worthy of rediscovery. Cops And Robbers builds a solid foundation on a smart script by veteran crime novelist Donald Westlake, who informs his slyly humorous narrative with quirky yet believable characters and an unpredictable plot that entertains and amuses without ever pandering to the audience. The characterizations are well-served by a trio of strong performances that drive the film:
Joseph Bologna bring some fire to his role as a cop who believes he's getting cheated by life,
Cliff Gorman offers a quiet intensity as the partner who regains a lost sense of thrills from their criminal escapades and John P. Ryan is equal parts charm and menace as the arrogant mob fence who becomes frustrated when these neophytes begin to outwit him.
Aram Avakian directs in a nicely understated style: his pacing and visual style bring atmosphere to the proceedings without ever distracting the viewer from the story or performances. He also manages a few nice setpieces along the way, the major highlights being a tensely executed heist sequence and a hand-off finale which mixes laughs and excitement in a captivating style. In short, Cops And Robbers offers a savvy, light-hearted take on the crime film that is well worth the time for genre aficionados. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide