Deep Cover displays likeable bonding

Working off the improv performance mantra of “say yes,” Deep Cover provides amusing moments and works as an action film if you agree to its implausibility.  In other words, “say yes” when something ridiculously out of reality’s bounds happens. The clever concept from writers Derek Connoly, Colin Trevorrow, and Ben Ashenden shows what might happen if a cop hired three performers to infiltrate a drug operation, figuring their skills at improvisation mean they think fast on their feet and can get out of touchy situations. The gimmick lets director Tom Kingsley zip his camera around London as the lead characters say yes to drugs, weapons, chases, and violence that goes beyond a casual gunshot. Played by Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, and Nick Mohammed, the Deep Cover “improvs” display likeable, bonding chemistry as enjoyable losers who inspire cheerleading for their success. And despite playing drug dealers, Sonoya Mizuno and Paddy Considine come off as worth rooting for—a nifty trick, especially given Considine’s crime family gig in MobLand.  The Deep Cover package could almost qualify as pleasant except when it delves too deeply in genre props like a chain saw. The writers should have said “no” to that one but instead go for a quick “yuck” and move back into brisk and amusing comic mode, shallow rather than deep--but fun anyway.