If you’re someone who enjoys the action from police flicks of the 1970s and 1980s, then The Pretend Men’s show Police Cops is definitely for you.

If you’re a person who wants to laugh almost continuously for an hour then this show is also for you.

Pure entertainment doesn’t come more likeable than this as a trio of actors bounce around the stage with endless enthusiasm and energy, telling the story of Jimmy Johnson (Zachary Hunt) who swears to his dying brother he will become the “best damn police cop ever” in 1970s America.

In order to find a Mexican criminal, Jimmy has to team up with retired old cop Harrison (Tom Turner).

And so begins a frantic hour parodying every buddy cop cliché in the book.

The trio of actors - Nathan Parkinson is the final one of the three - hysterical playing everything from a Mexican cat to an arrogant police officer.

They nail their roles so perfectly it is impossible to say who steals the show.

This performance is physical comedy at its peak: montages, dances, running on the spot.

What the three of them can do with movement and facial expressions is amazing.

Not a minute goes by without at least a few jokes which feel hilariously imrovised and, while not all of them land, the majority do which is evident from the belly-aching laughter from the audience.

The story is also quite engaging despite its self-aware and often surreal moments.

Parkinson’s Mexican kitty is a two-minute scene of absurdly-funny comedy and the bare stage and rapid costume changes are incredibly effective.

The show is so fast paced the actors (often shirtless) are bathed in sweat within the first quarter.

Police Cops is the definition of entertainment. An hour will zip past in what feels like 10 minutes thanks to the sharp wit and constant one liners coming from the three exceptionally-gifted actors.

Jacob Hando, part of the Canterbury Festival young critics scheme

---

You have the right to remain silent! But this energetic, multi-award-winning three-man comedy will keep you far from it.

Set in 1970s America, this buddy cop parody had the audience laughing throughout.

Their skills as actors were stretched as the three had to believably perform a multitude of characters and accents with slick quick costume changes down to a tee.

The opening scene jumps straight into the action with thick accents and equally thick moustaches.

Young Jimmy (Zachary Hunt) promises his dying brother to become “the best Police Cop ever”, which after years of training shortened down to a well-choreographed montage involving shirt ripping, the star spangled banner and a guitar solo, he tops his classes and becomes one of the best Police Cops the force has seen.

Under the orders of officer Malloy (Nathan Parkinson), Jimmy is given the task of bringing in the infamous Mexican drug lord Hernández – who dons a very catty disguise – but first must track down a retired Police Cop legend to aid him in his mission.

Once found, Jimmy persuades hesitant and hardened ex-Police Cop Harrison (Tom Turner) to help him on the case.

Montages, memorable one-liners and action packed physical theatre which The Full Monty would be proud of are used to display Jimmy and Harrison’s adventures together and ensuing friendship in cracking the Hernández case.

Fighting crime as a dynamic duo, the pair become household names and heroes to the American people.

Fame comes at a cost - when they are found taking liberties with their new-found stardom things begin to unravel.

When all seems lost, Jimmy is given some advice from a familiar face in the form of a heavenly ghost which is the show’s underlying message: to not be the best that you’re expected to be but to be the best ‘you’ you can be.

The occasional corpsing from the performers can easily be overlooked, given the atmosphere they had set within the theatre, and that the audience found the jokes equally as funny.

Over-the-top choreography, cheesy jokes and all-familiar clichés usually add up to a flop, but Police Cops they manage to pull it off by milking it and adding to the hilarity.

The enthusiasm of the performers alone is a good enough reason to watch it but be warned – if you’re looking for a taste of America, you’ll be fighting to catch a breath between each joke.

Jez Parker, part of the Canterbury Festival young critics scheme