Kevin Bacon Plays Bad Cop in ‘Cop Car’

Sandra Miska

Two young actors will officially be only one degree away from Kevin Bacon when the indie dark comedy “Cop Car” opens August 7.

Kevin Bacon plays a small-town renegade sheriff named Kretzer who goes in search of the title cop car after it is taken by two rebellious youths, Travis (James Freedson-Jackson) and Harrison (Hays Wellford).  After running away from their homes, the two boys, aged 10, find the abandoned vehicle in a field with the keys still inside it.  Curious, they take the car on a joy ride.

Kretzer soon realizes his error, and to complicate matters, he has left something of value in the car.  A chase between the sheriff and the boys ensues.  Initially Travis and Harrison have a blast, fooling around with police tape, a defibrillator, and a bunch of weapons.  However, once they discover what is in the trunk, they realize they may be in over their heads.

Emmy-winning actress Camryn Manheim plays a local busybody who has the misfortune to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Cop Car” was directed and co-written by Jon Watts.  Watts has a comedy background, having previously directed episodes of “The Onion News Network.”  He co-wrote the script with his frequent collaborator Christopher D. Ford.  The film was shot in Watts’ home state of Colorado.  He recently spoke with Entertainment Weekly about working with Bacon.

“He’s so lean and sinewy and great.  Such a precision instrument, that guy. He can do anything. I never thought we could get someone like him.  I didn’t even think we were going to get to make a movie.  But he read it and he really liked it.”

“Cop Car” premiered at Sundance earlier this year.  So great was the buzz that it helped Watts, who was virtually unknown just a few years ago, land his next gig directing Marvel’s upcoming “Spider-Man” reboot, scheduled for release in 2017.  This new “Spider-Man” will follow the superhero during his teenage years.

“Cop Car” opens in select theaters August 7.