Almost Cops (2025) is a Dutch comedy crime film. This work skillfully blends the typical structure of a crime investigation drama with comedy, humanity, brotherhood, and camaraderie, establishing itself as a genre-mixed movie that can be enjoyed lightheartedly.
The film tells the story of two completely mismatched men who become partners in pursuit of a case after a police officer’s death. The small mishaps that occur while tracking the case provide laughter, and the relationship develops through conflict and emotional exchange, following a classic structure. During a night patrol, police officer Kevin dies, and the police organization approaches this sensitive case with caution. Jack, Kevin’s colleague and a serious police officer, tries to uncover the truth in shock and anger. Jack joins the special constable unit where Kevin’s half-brother Ramon works, and by chance, becomes partners with Ramon.
The setting is the streets of Rotterdam before dawn. Community service officer Ramon starts his day preparing for work in front of the police station. He wants to be called a “model cop” in the neighborhood, but his colleagues joke about his excessive principled nature and meticulousness. Ramon starts his day by issuing illegal parking tickets to the elderly and warning residents who don’t clean up after their dogs. Ramon’s younger brother Kevin is a real police officer, often going on dangerous undercover missions, and supports his brother’s dream of opening a youth center to guide local kids. However, Kevin’s daily life is always close to danger.
But the peaceful routine doesn’t last long. In a dark warehouse at the Rotterdam harbor, Kevin is shot and killed during a drug bust, and his partner Jack barely escapes. Wracked with guilt over losing his colleague and distrust from his superiors, Jack is demoted from detective to community service officer and falls into cynicism and helplessness. The police chief coldly tells Jack, “You have to take responsibility.”
A few days later, Ramon is paired with Jack for the first time during a neighborhood patrol. Jack is cynical and rough, the complete opposite of Ramon’s principled nature. They argue over dog poop, and Jack mocks Ramon, saying, “You’ll never be a real cop.” However, Ramon senses that Kevin’s death wasn’t just an accident. Jack also can’t let go of Kevin’s death. While wary of each other, the two gradually start chasing clues together.
This film, while following a typical flow, is driven all the way to the end by the gags and warm emotional lines created by the characters, as well as brotherhood and camaraderie. Especially, Jandino Asporaat, who plays the protagonist Ramon, delivers big laughs with his physical comedy, while Bernard Kolff as Jack delicately expresses cynicism, helplessness, and growth. It is evaluated as a crime comedy that is obvious but alive with gags, and typical but leaves a warm aftertaste.
Almost Cops 2025 Film
- Korean : 어쩌다 파트너 | English : Almost Cops | Japanese : –
- Genre: Comedy, Crime
- Director: Gonzalo Fernandez Carmona
- Cast: Jandino Asporaat, Bernard Kolff, Florence Vos Weeda
- Distributor: Netflix
- Release: 2025
- Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes
- Rating: Not suitable for minors
Table of Contents
Netflix Almost Cops Rating
IMDb: 4.7/10
Almost Cops Cast
- Ramon (Jandino Asporaat @jandinoofficial): Community service officer, principled and timid older brother
Notable works: This film, Bon Bini Holland (2015), Bon Bini: Judeska in da House (2020), Bon Bini Holland 2 (2018), De Dino Show (2011–2013) - Jack (Bernard Kolff @bernardkolff): Former detective, cynical and rough partner
Notable works: This film, Mocro Maffia (2018–), De Libi (2019), De Oost (2020), De Luizenmoeder (2018–2019), Baantjer het Begin (2019) - Florence Vos Weeda: Dylan, Ramon’s girlfriend
Notable works: This film, De Libi (2019), Bon Bini Holland (2015), De Oost (2020), De Luizenmoeder (2018–2019), Baantjer het Begin (2019)
Director Filmography
Gonzalo Fernandez Carmona is a director active in the Dutch film industry, mainly creating works that combine social messages and humor. In this work, he blends the typical framework of a crime investigation with comedy, camaraderie, and local community spirit. He has previous experience directing short films and TV comedy series, and Almost Cops is close to his feature debut.
Almost Cops Plot Summary
In the pre-dawn streets of Rotterdam, community service officer Ramon prepares for work in front of the police station. He wants to be known as the “model cop” in the neighborhood, but his colleagues joke about his excessive principled nature and meticulousness. He starts his day by issuing illegal parking tickets to the elderly and warning residents who don’t clean up after their dogs. Ramon’s younger brother Kevin is a real police officer, often going on dangerous undercover missions. Kevin gives Ramon a pool table as a gift and supports his brother’s dream of opening a youth center to guide local kids. However, Kevin’s daily life is always close to danger.
In a dark warehouse at the Rotterdam harbor, Kevin and his partner Jack are on a drug stakeout. Soon, masked assailants burst in, shots are fired, Kevin is shot and falls, and Jack barely escapes. After the incident, Jack, wracked with guilt and distrust from his superiors, is demoted from detective to community service officer. Jack is engulfed in anger and helplessness. The police chief coldly tells Jack, “You have to take responsibility.”
A few days later, Ramon is paired with Jack for the first time during a neighborhood patrol. Jack is cynical and rough, the complete opposite of Ramon’s principled nature. The two argue over dog poop, and Jack mocks Ramon, saying, “You’ll never be a real cop.” However, Ramon senses that Kevin’s death wasn’t just an accident. Jack also can’t let go of Kevin’s death. While wary of each other, the two gradually start chasing clues together.
Ramon and Jack follow Kevin’s clues through Rotterdam’s back alleys, discovering traces of a drug organization and clashing with gang members. One night, Ramon witnesses a suspicious figure, Guido, at a crime scene. Guido is connected to police corruption and deeply involved in Kevin’s death. Ramon feels threatened during their first encounter, but with Jack’s help, narrowly escapes. Ramon is nearly arrested, but Jack throws himself in to save him. For the first time, trust begins to form between the two.
During the investigation, Ramon discovers that Kevin was tracking police corruption before his death. Kevin’s death is not just a clash with a drug organization, but also connected to corruption within the police. Jack is pressured by his boss to drop the case, but decides with Ramon to pursue the truth. They secretly gather information and follow the organization’s money trail. During this process, Jack confesses to Ramon the true nature of his relationship with Kevin. Jack was Kevin’s partner and was tormented by guilt for failing to protect him. Ramon feels betrayed and has a big fight with Jack. The two decide to go their separate ways.
Ramon continues the investigation alone and is kidnapped by gang members. In a dark warehouse, Ramon is tied to a chair, surrounded by Guido and the gang. Guido mocks Ramon, saying Kevin tried to betray the organization and that’s why he died. At that moment, Jack storms in with fellow community officers, all wearing bicycle helmets, shouting, “We have to save Ramon!” The rescue is clumsy but sincere. Amid the chaos, Ramon fights Guido, Jack subdues the gang members, and Ramon finally defeats Guido with his last strength.
Almost Cops Ending
On the night of the final showdown, Ramon and Jack head to a high-rise building where Richard van der Blood, the mastermind behind the organization, is located. Richard is a major businessman in Rotterdam, running two drug organizations simultaneously. Ramon and Jack confront Richard on the rooftop. Richard threatens them with a gun, saying, “You’ve made an enemy you can’t handle.” Ramon puts down his gun and tries to persuade Richard to stop. Richard hesitates for a moment but eventually surrenders. The police arrive and arrest Richard. Jack and Ramon look at each other and sigh in relief.
After the case is resolved, the police chief offers the two a promotion to detective. Jack looks at Ramon and shakes his head. Ramon says, “It’s more important for us to protect this neighborhood,” and declines the promotion. The two decide to remain community service officers. Their colleagues are surprised, but Ramon and Jack leave the station with smiles. Ramon reunites with his girlfriend Dylan, and Jack teaches basketball to local kids. Now true partners, they patrol the streets of Rotterdam together.
In the final scene, Ramon and Jack ride their bicycles through the sunset streets of Rotterdam. Children wave, residents encourage them, and Ramon touches Kevin’s keepsake necklace, looking up at the sky. Jack pats Ramon on the shoulder and says, “Now we’re real partners.” The two smile at each other. Under the city lights, their shadows stretch long. They are no longer awkward partners, but true neighbors, colleagues, and family.
Almost Cops Ending Explained
The ending of Almost Cops emphasizes not just solving a crime or achieving a promotion, but true community, solidarity, and personal growth. Ramon and Jack overcome their wounds and guilt, accepting each other as true partners. Through this process, they realize that protecting their community, neighbors, and colleagues is more valuable than formal authority or promotion.
Ramon’s decision to refuse promotion and remain a community officer shows his priorities—choosing what he truly wants to protect over organizational success. Jack, too, lets go of cynicism and anger, deciding to put down roots in the community with Ramon. The final scene of the two riding bicycles on patrol symbolizes that they are no longer awkward partners, but true neighbors, colleagues, and family.
Ultimately, the film wears the guise of a crime investigation, but at its heart is a warm message about personal growth, forgiveness, and the meaning of community. The predictable plot, twists, and happy ending are all familiar, but the humor, emotional arcs, and realistic struggles of the characters leave a deep sense of empathy and resonance with the audience.
Almost Cops Review
Almost Cops is a crime comedy that mixes the classic structure of a crime investigation with comedy and camaraderie, making it a light and enjoyable watch. Even within its familiar narrative, the character-driven humor and warm emotional threads carry the film to the end, making it a charming “popcorn movie.” This Dutch film follows the comic trope of police who don’t quite act like police, and while the flavor is familiar, it’s an easy, enjoyable recommendation.
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