I ALMOST didn't watch this, because the reviews on "Interwebflix" all said it sucked. But, the trailer looked promising, and it had a very good cast, so, I thought I'd give it a chance, and, man, am I glad I did! Yes, it is a bit dialog heavy at the start, (after a hold up gone bad right from the jump, think, 1997's real life North Hollywood Shootout, or "Heat") but, it then takes what could be a cliched tale of the grizzled veteran cop, not quite at the "I'm getting to old for this shizz" stage of his career, teaching the baby fresh boot the REALITY of the job he's dreamed about his whole life, and SLOWLY turns it up to ELEVEN.

Think "Training Day", if Denzel's Alonzo Harris was a good (but flawed) guy, instead of an azzhat.

The rookie comes from a family of over achieving cops, but, never could quite live up to his living legend fathers reputation or standards, and, any achievements he DID make, were greeted with the skepticism that he simply traded in on the family name to get where he is. He actually doesn't even want to be in Patrol, but sees it as a step to more exciting things such as SWAT or Sniper duty. He also has an (off screen) pregnant wife who texts and calls him every hour to check up on him, which makes for some interesting convos at the most inappropriate times.

The Vet, has recently become an FTO (Field Training Officer) after losing his previous partner in another robbery (NOT the one shown at the start), but, managing to put 3 bad guys on "the wrong side of the dirt", even after being shot gunned, and having to take some time off to heal up. He too, is a minor legend because of this, however, he doesn't revel in the notoriety, but, instead enjoys the steady routine of "the job", as it occurs from the confines of his Police "Crown Victoria" Cruiser. There is also the backstory of his deceased partners (now) drug addicted wife, and her missing daughter, which will figure prominently throughout the story.

We are also introduced to "wild card", undercover cops Jack VanZandt and David Krumholtz, (Think, an unwashed Alonzo Harris on steroids and meth (literally), with a piss poor attitude and a partner who is his enabler) Their quest for revenge on a perp who scratched his face during an arrest interweaves through the movie, and, is a cautionary tale critical to the plot.

It seems the underlying question the movie is trying to answer is, where does each officer draw the line as far has his code of conduct? Yes, every cop is taught the rules and regulations, and goes into the job wanting to save the world, but, when met with the often ugly and despicable reality that is humanity at it's worse, (after all, nobody calls for, or gets detained by a cop when they're having a GOOD day) where is the moment that the line starts to get blurred, and you start channeling "Judge Dredd" and shouting "I AM the LAW", as you decide to personally "take out the trash", rather than wait on a system that often fails in its prime directive of providing justice while protecting and serving the public. How easy it is to forget that "with great power, comes great(er) responsibility".

And so, we ride along, as each incident and call shows the rookie, who, at the beginning of his first shift is as self righteous as a newly baptized religious convert, sees his righteousness tested, and his line(s) in the sand redrawn by each particular circumstance, some comedic, some terrifying, until HE finally is forced to "put his money where his mouth is" in a particularly intense confrontation with the "wild cards", during the arrest of the aforementioned murdering robbers, and finally, in the aftermath of a critical decision by his mentor trainer.

As Thomas Jane tells him at the end of the shift, "either you figure out how you're going to do this job and deal with it, or, find another line of work". "But, it comes down to what happens in this patrol car, and what happens out there in the world. But EVERYTHING that happens in this patrol car, STAYS in this patrol car". Wise words indeed.

Well worth the watch!