Gangster Squad

Yes, you read it correctly... that seriously is the title of the film.

                                                     Sean, there's somthing on your face... never mind.

DIRECTOR: Ruben Fleischer

CAST: Tommy Lee Jones from the past, a potential Backstreet Boy, a glass of Harvey Milk, Gwen Stacy, the freak from 'Ted', typecast Mexican, the soon-to-be The Falcon, Joel Edgerton's and Tom Hardy's dad and the T-1000.

PLOT: A few minutes on Google will show that this film is very, very, very, very, very very loosely based on a true story (to the point that they use the name 'Mickey Cohen' and use the city of Los Angeles). So yeah, it's hardly true at all. But still, 'Gangster Squad' is about a group of cops who set out on using dirty tactics to take down the crime lord Mickey Cohen.

Fun and entertainment are the words of the day and if you're going into 'Gangster Squad' expecting a masterpiece then you're probably best to see some of the other cream of the Academy crop that is available at the beginning of a year. But if you're tiring of the Oscar darlings in which a film must be about US presidents, terrorists or mental illness, then look no further than a welcome break of switching off your brain.

As with any film that opens with a man being torn apart by cars, it's not exactly going to be the most intelligent or experimental experience; instead it's a gangster movie that indulges in over the top violence, corrupt officials and characters that are too cool to ask questions before they pull the trigger. 

Josh Brolin is the grizzled, hard looking, straight edged leader of the squad who cares about nothing but upholding the law by any means neccessary. He's the perfect man for the part, with his chiseled jaw and appearance that hints that he can handle himself in a spot of trouble. But despite the rest of the squad being filled up with quality actors, they are only given simplistic and minor backstory - a family man, an old dog, a protégée, etc. 

Underdeveloped characters still manage to hold charisma though, thanks to the heavily talented and likable cast; especially Ryan Gosling's ladykiller 'Sergeant Jerry Wooters', who underwhelmingly recites intelligent dialogue because he knows his handsome looks are enough to pull Emma Stone, of all people - yet he's still somehow likable. It's just a shame that the romance never amounts to much at an emotional level. Her damsel-in-distress is mainly there to be used as a vital narrative tool, rather than form a well-rounded character. 

Actually, that's where 'Gangster Squad' lets itself down the most, when the tone shifts and the 'Squad' have stopped shooting people. The cast is more than able to deliver emotion, but with an uneven script like this it doesn't prove to be easy. The dialogue is cool and cheesy, always enough to 'woo' and take a woman to bed, but it doesn't go any further than that.  

The stand-out character is arguably Sean Penn's 'Mickey Cohen'. He's an egotistical mob boss who wants it all, so he doesn't exactly need to be well developed. Aside from the heavy make-up which is a little bit distracting, Penn doesn't look as if he's had this fun acting in a long time, as he portrays the sadistic boxer 'Cohen'. He's ruthless and a complete mental-case - a complete joy to watch.

                                          'No ma'am, I didn't like 'The Amazing Spider-Man'.

'Gangster Squad' may have worked better if it was presented in a grittier fashion, with less slow-motion and polished visuals - especially a sequence of shots in which Sean Penn and Josh Brolin manage to get their hands on shotguns in the thrilling climatic scene. But the glossy style of the cinematography is much like the narrative - unsubtle with all guns blazing. And if you're happy with that sort of thing now and then, 'Gangster Squad' will prove to be a favourite with many.

You might be tempted to suggest that Fleischer should stick to comedy, but even his first follow-up to ‘Zombieland’, ’30 Minutes or Less’ failed to live up to its potential. Maybe with the below positive welcome to ‘Gangster Squad’ from critics, it might be time to treat us to a second delicious helping of ‘Zombieland’.

But any film with the title 'Gangster Squad' isn't trying to fool you. It's not out to win awards, it's not trying to impress the niche markets. At the end of the day it’s cheesy, clichéd and in many ways style over substance, but you can tell that’s how it’s supposed to be as it proudly wears its heart on its sleeve. It’s not trying to be the next ‘Goodfellas’ or ‘LA Confidential’. It’s trying, and succeeding, to be good old fashioned popcorn fodder fun.

* * * ½