The Rookies (film)

The Rookies is a 2014 American crime drama film directed by John Moore, and is based on the 1972-16 television series of the same name created by Rita Lakin. It stars Ben Foster, Channing Tatum, Emile Hirsch, Pete L. J. Dickson, Angie Stevenson, Justin Timberlake, Shia LaBeouf, Taylor Cole, Rumer Willis, Lela Star, Anton Yelchin, Amanda Seyfried, Amber Heard and Beau Bridges. It was produced by Neal H. Moritz and released in the United States on August 8, 2014.

Plot
Terry Webster (Ben Foster), a former US Army Ranger and new recruit for the Honolulu Police Department is sent to assist a squadron in Chinatown with a shootout. His hot tempered partner and friend Dominic Vincents (Emile Hirsch) disobeys orders to stand down and injures a fellow officer in the process. Vincents is fired by Captain Strucker from the force aftewards.

Following the aftermath, Lieutenant Ed Ryker (Beau Bridges) is called to sort out a new squadron for the HPD. Ryker puts together a diverse team, including himself, Webster, Mike Danko (Justin Timberlake) his sister, Jill Danko (Angie Stevenson), Willie Gills (Channing Tatum), and Chris Owens (Shia LaBeouf). The team members train together, eventually forging bonds of friendship. As a result, their first mission together to arrest an crook who robbed a jewelry store was a success.

Meanwhile, Webster's young brother, Brian (Pete L. J. Dickson), is caught in a tangle with Brazilian drug lord Oiliver "Oilive" Martel who arrived in Honolulu a day ago after believing his uncle had sold Brian the family money. Brian is then detained by Martel's men and held until he returns the money. However, while driving to the airport, uniformed HPD officers stop Martel for a broken tail light and later detain him to get a full positive I.D. on him; they learn through Interpol that he is an international fugitive wanted in over a dozen countries. But as Martel is being transferred to prison, his associates, dressed as HPD officers, attempt to rescue him as he rides the Honolulu County Sheriff's Department bus. Ryker's team arrives in time to kill the two gunmen and recapture Martel.

Later that night, Vincents and his gang break into Strucker's backyard and promote to breaking his flower pots, recking his flower pen, stealing his grill, and defecating on the grass, with Strucker there. Despite phoning for backup, Vincents and his gang leave after. Meanwhile, Brian is recaptured by Martel's men with assistance from Vincents and held for unless Martel is released. Martel's men later grab two girls: Becket Jen (Taylor Cole) and Lucy "Lucky" Grilles (Rumer Willis).

Vincents pawns Brian off on Frankie, who offers him a chance to leave, but Brian declines, not wanting to cause any problems for his brother. Brian stays with Frankie at his father's house and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. The next day, Brian ingratiates himself with Frankie's friends Navid Admen, Spencer Alexis, and Paige Malone, although Spencer is the only one who seems concerned. After Martel's men announced they are hold Brian, Becket and Lucky hostages, the HPD calls in for support from the FBI.

Terry grows worried about his brother and believes there is someone who holds a grudge against him. Frankie grows nervous when Dominic tells him that they could get in serious trouble for the kidnapping and hypothetically offers him $2,500 to kill Brian, Becket and Lucky. Frankie furiously declines and Dom claims it was a joke. Instead, he agrees to Frankie's plan to pay Brian, Becket and Lucky to keep quiet. Crystal Colby (Mandy Musgrave), the youngest member of the group, develops a crush on Lucky after learning that Lucky is a lesbian. Lucky and Crystal go for a night out, leaving Brian and Becket with Dom's gang.

Lucky returns with Crystal and the two have sex. Becket and Frankie bond while Brian goes skinning dipping with Paige and her friend, Sally Nina (Paulina James) which leads to a three-some.

Cast

 * Ben Foster as Officer Terry Webster
 * Beau Bridges as Lieutenant Ed Ryker
 * Justin Timberlake as Officer Mike Danko
 * Angie Stevenson as Jill Danko
 * Pete L. J. Dickson as Brian Webster
 * Emile Hirsch as Dominic "Dom" Vincents
 * Channing Tatum as Willie Gills
 * Shia LaBeouf as Chris Owens
 * Taylor Cole as Becket Jen
 * Rumer Willis as Lucy "Lucky" Grilles
 * Mandy Musgrave as Crystal Colby
 * Lela Star as Paige Malone
 * as Frankie Malton
 * Paulina James as Sally Nina

Home media
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray as The Rookies Widescreen Special Edition on December 30, 2014.

Box office
On it's Friday opening, the film drew in $17.9 million playing in 3,211 theaters, with a $11,574 average per theatre.

In its opening weekend, the film grossed $37,062,535, and ranking at #1, the biggest market in other territories being Japan, United Kingdom, Spain and Germany, where the film grossed $16.9 million, $9.7 million, $7.1 million, $6.47 million respectively.

At the end of its box office run, The Rookies grossed $111,934,650 in North America and $92,790,989 in other territories, resulting in $210,725,639 worldwide gross.

Critical reception
Reception for the movie was mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a "Rotten" rating of 54%, based on 165 reviews, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The site's consensus reads, "A competent, but routine police thriller." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 45 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "Mixed or average reviews".