Cops Vs. Robbers: The Movie (2020 film)

Cops Vs. Robbers: The Movie is an American animated comedy action film directed by Andy Muschietti. It is produced by 20th Century Fox Studios and distributed by Blue Sky Studios. It stars the voices of Niko Lovett, Gabriel Combs, Saige Lovett, Zac Efron, and Kadence Lovett.

The film was released theatrically in the United States on December 7, 2020, as well as video-on-demand on the same day. It grossed $10 million against a $40 million budget, and received generally positive reviews for its plot, casting, humor, animation, and performances.

Plot
During the News, Rex Daggerfist and Dan Shocker, the worlds greatest criminals, discover (via the News) that the Cyber Crystal, the most powerful relic in all of mankind, is being kept at the Cyber City Museum. The two suit up and prepare to steal it so they can sell it to someone.

At the Scene, Detective Charlotte, the world’s greatest detective, searches the crime scene, and watches as Rex and Dan sneak into the Museum. Rex and Charlotte have a big fight while Dan steals all the money. Rex overpowers Charlotte and escapes with Dan and the money, leading to Charlotte declaring a war against them.

Rex and Dan return to the Criminal Base hidden in the Alley to give Dealer, their cash giver, the Cyber Crystal. Dealer takes the Crystal and reveals that it was the creator of the Universe, claiming that it was a mistake to steal it as the most powerful dealer, the Almighty Assassin, was the guard. Rex and Dan swear to return the Diamond as it is the most valuable thing in the city. They leave the Criminal Base to do so.

They sneak through the City in disguise, but are almost caught. They then sneak into a Lamborghini as they are caught. They escape the Police Officers after a high speed chase, but land up in a hill where the car is destroyed in the process. The two then regret stealing the Lamborghini and go to Cyber Labs to return the diamond. The Lab is guarded by S.W.A.T. Members, but the two sneak in through vents. Rex notices the Diamond of Leagues, an ancient Diamond that is the most valuable thing in Diamond City. He then returns the Cyber Crystal and attempts to steal the Diamond of Leagues. As they leave, the S.W.A.T. Members catch them trying. Detective Charlotte, who leads the team, places them under arrest. The two escape the Police and hide out in the Alleys.

The two are called in by the League of Villains, a league of potential supervillains who host the greatest criminals of all time. Their leader, Master Forkbender, welcomes the two as they are founded to be the best villains in the city. Forkbender decides to send the two on a Mission to retrieve a military-guarded Diamond and bring it back to Forkbender, as he is the original owner of the Diamond.

In New York, Rex and Dan knock out two Police officers and use their suits as disguises. They get to the Mall, where they keep the Diamond in the Jewelry Store as a Relic. Rex breaks the glass, which sounds off the Alarm and alerts the Police Officers in the building. Dan locks the door and the two jump off the roof, landing in Forkbender’s jet and escaping.

Back at Home, Forkbender believes the two to be the World’s New Best Villains, but then sees that the Police almost caught the two, claiming them to be bad villains and kicking them out of the League. Rex and Dan then almost get into a fight, but discover a train that they can rob. The two sneak onto the Train, starting a robbery and alerting the Police. The two escape and go to Forkbender, who accepts Rex into the League, but banishes Dan for being a sidekick. As Dan believes that Rex would say no, Rex accepts and abandons Dan to be a lonely criminal. Rex and Dan then have a fight and split up. Dan decides to become his own villain known as the Electromagnetic Pulser. Forkbender claims that Rex made the “right decision”.

As Rex and Forkbender prepare to cause a Riot on the city, Forkbender is revealed to be Detective Charlotte in disguise plotting to capture the two. Meanwhile, Dan fails to rob a train. Forkbender (Charlotte) chases after the train and “saves” Dan, as Charlotte reveals herself to Dan and captures him as well, along with throwing Rex and Dan in the same cell.

As Rex and Dan have another fight, Charlotte reveals that she plots to throw the two in a volcano one by one, starting with Dan. Charlotte traps Dan in a cage and an Officer tries to capture Rex, who escapes and knocks out the guards. Charlotte takes Dan to the Volcano, giving him 5 minutes to say his last words before he dies. Dan tries to convince Charlotte to free him, but she denies.

Rex arrives and fights the guards. Rex then arrives to fight Charlotte, who claims that he is “too late” and presses the button. Rex and Charlotte have a final fight as Dan breaks out of the cage. Rex and Dan make up for their fights and prepare for their final fight with Charlotte, who is revealed to be an even bigger supervillain named Slitherous. Rex and Dan eventually defeat her after a long battle, but she drags Rex in with her into the volcano. Rex escaped and he and Dan are finally reunited. Rex and Dan are then caught by the Police, but break out of Jail again. The Police give up and let them “have their fun” until they get a new Detective. Rex and Dan then become friends again and cause Crimes together. Rex also tells Dan that he does not see him as a sidekick but a partner.

In a mid-credit scene, the real Forkbender calls Rex and Dan, claiming that he has a mission for them.

Cast

 * Niko Lovett as Rex Daggerfist, the world’s most powerful robber.
 * Gabriel Combs as Dan Shocker, the second most powerful robber.
 * Saige Lovett as Detective Charlotte, the world’s best detective.
 * Zac Efron as Mayor Brown, the mayor of Clifferville.
 * Chris Evans as Master Forkbender, the best villain in the world.
 * Kadence Lovett as Dealer, the person who makes deals with criminals.

Production
The film was announced in January 2019, with Lovett, Combs, and Lovett (2) attached to the project. Tim Burton was originally set to direct the film, but Andy Muschietti took the role instead. Efron and Lovett (3) joined the cast in May. Filming took place between October 2019 and March 2020 (shortly before the Pandemic).

Reception
The film received generally positive reviews for its plot, casting, humor, animation, and performances. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 90% score, based on 100 reviews, with an average rating of 8.77 out of 10. The website’s critical consensus reads, “Standing out with an outstanding cast, Cops Vs. Robbers: The Movie flies up as an amazing and hilarious animated adventure.” On an A+ to F Scale, the film received an “A”.

Release
The film was released theatrically in the United States on December 7, 2020.

Future
While director Andy Muschietti intended the film to be a stand-alone film, Combs expressed interest in a sequel, stating that “this movie is like no other movie that I’ve ever seen. It’s different, it stands out, and if we were to make a sequel, than I hope that it will do nothing more than expand the universe this movie created.”