Netflix has been the place to be for some great original programming both series and movies. The latest film Coffee & Kareem stars Ed Helms, Taraji P. Henson, Betty Gilpin, and David Alan Grier, but does it bring the action and laughs it promises or will it fail to close the case?

 

Coffee & Kareem follows police officer James Coffee who enjoys his new relationship with Vanessa Manning, but her beloved 12-year-old son Kareem plots their break-up. Attempting to scare away his mom's boyfriend for good, Kareem tries to hire criminal fugitives to take him out but accidentally exposes a secret network of criminal activity, making his family its latest target. To protect Vanessa, Kareem teams up with Coffee - the partner he never wanted - for a dangerous chase across Detroit. From director Michael Dowse, COFFEE and KAREEM is an action-comedy about forging unexpected bonds, one four-letter insult at a time.

 

The only thing I knew going in on this film was the name and cast which was enough of a reason to check it out. This film did not disappoint offering up tons of laughs and action reminiscent of the old school buddy action flicks. Ed Helms brings his bumbling act to the forefront as a cop trying his best to be the tough guy but is never really able to succeed. Sure he has his redeeming moments in the action department but it isn’t without some good laughs to go with it. His awkward relationship with Taraji P. Henson works to create a fun relationship that shouldn’t work but does.

 

The real star here though is young Terence Little Gardenhigh as Kareem. He is hilarious throughout and brings both the laughs and a tough sweetness to the role. His chemistry with Helms is the heart of making this film work and its great fun to watch. They went all in here and ended up delivering a pretty great action comedy that pulled no punches right up until the end.

 

There are plenty of twists and turns and while some are pretty obvious they are coming still deliver. I had a ton of fun with this film and plenty of laughs that are much needed during this time in the world.