As one Atlanta-filmed cop-themed movie, “Ride Along 2,” continues production this summer, another, “Let’s Be Cops,” hits theaters Wednesday.
The buddy comedy stars Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. as two friends who, finding themselves a bit adrift professionally and in their love lives, don cop suits for a costume party and then decide they look good in blue.
“People actually think we’re cops!” Johnson’s character, a frequently out-of-work actor named Ryan, exclaims to his video game designer roommate, the more successful but no less unsatisfied Justin, played by Wayans.
What could go wrong? Well, a lot.
“My character is a very talented guy, but he’s controlled by fear, lack of confidence,” Wayans said when the guys were in town a few weeks ago on a promotional tour. While he’s never felt like impersonating a law enforcement officer (and doesn’t suggest you try it, either), he does relate to his character’s sense of striving.
“As an actor, you’re always asking yourself, am I good enough?” Wayans said.
“At its core, it’s a movie about not giving up on your dreams,” Johnson said. “No matter what happens in your career, just don’t quit.”
The movie also stars locally based actress Nina Dobrev, who appears on the CW hit “The Vampire Diaries,” along with James D’Arcy, Rob Riggle and Andy Garcia. Although it’s set in Los Angeles, locals should be able to spot Atlanta.
“I liked shooting at Underground,” Wayans said.
“We took over that street,” Johnson mused.
So did the first “Ride Along,” starring Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. That movie, starring Cube as a by-the-book officer and Hart as his outrageous but big-hearted friend, was set in Atlanta and filmed at Underground along with locations including Grady High School and some area restaurants.
“Ride Along 2” reunites Cube and Hart but is set in Miami, which may explain the brightly colored floral-patterned pants Hart was wearing the other day when that movie filmed in downtown Atlanta. Other law enforcement-themed movies to film in Atlanta in recent years include “Prisoners” with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal and “Sabotage” with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
While their characters roamed the streets of “L.A.,” Wayans and Johnson had a big time in Atlanta.
“It was really fun,” Johnson said. “What’s great about Atlanta is all the great restaurants. Nina took us out. She made a master list.”
They dined at Gunshow and Antico, cheered on the Braves at Turner Field, guzzled in the glories of the World of Coca-Cola and made some new friends at the Clermont Lounge. Johnson spent a little time learning to hold a gun, sort of, with a military expert.
“I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t do anything that would embarrass my character,” he said. On the other hand, he didn’t want to do too good a job.
“What was cool about the movie is it was us pretending to pretend to be cops,” Wayans said.
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