Screen legends can't save this

"Righteous Kill” is a cop movie.

Anyone with half the intelligence of a monkey would be able to determine what the movie is about once they learn it’s a cop movie. What makes “Righteous Kill” different from any other derivative film involving detectives?

Honestly, not much.

“Righteous Kill” follows two veteran cops in the NYPD Homicide Division. Together, Turk (De Niro) and Rooster (Pacino) have solved several murders, but there is one serial killer they can’t to get a grip on.
 
Instead of going after innocent people, this killer hunts people who have gotten away with rape, murder or some drug-related crime. Although this murderer is only annihilating evil people, Turk and Rooster still have to arrest him, of course.

Even with a plot we’ve all seen before, viewers should be kept on the edge of their seats. “Righteous Kill” is nowhere near brilliant, but it still should be seen in theaters simply because it’s De Niro and Pacino.
 
Yet the cool factor of seeing two screen legends together for more than two scenes doesn’t make up for the lackluster premise.
 
The level of entertainment is there, as are a few suspenseful scenes and twists. But there’s nothing distinguishably different here.

The acting, however, was a high point. De Niro and Pacino show people why they have such respectable acting careers, and they do a very good job complementing each other. Their ancient ages aside, it really does feel like they are actual cops as the movie progresses.

“Righteous Kill” features a cast, director and screenwriter who are all solid as individuals, but together, they fail in creating anything resembling a great cop film.