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Just imagine for one minute what must go one behind the closed doors of Hollywood execs. Think about the amount of intelligence that it must take to run a studio and make money from films that are produced. Now, watch The Mod Squad, a remake of the classic 60s TV show about three juvenile delinquents who are joined at the hip with the police. Okay, now again think about the amount of intelligence that it must take to run a studio. If The Mod Squad were any clue as to how intelligent these execs, I wouldn't be surprised if three monkeys were making these so-called tough decisions.
Yes, The Mod Squad is everything filmmaking should not be. It's convoluted, confusing, boring, and it's been made to tear teenagers from their hard earned cash. Teenagers are more than likely bound to find something to like here, and for once, I can agree with them. There is something here that is likable, namely the cast of up-and-coming stars. The screenplay also manages to give us some funny dialogue now and then. But apart from that, there is virtually nothing here of merit. It's a film that wants to be escapist fare, but doesn't even know what escapist means.
It does, however, know what the word 'squad' means, as the filmmakers take the time to unbelievably explain the definition of the title to us. The target audience becomes apparent with this revelation of sorts; consequently, the audience it should have been aiming for will be left stunned with utter disbelief. Those fans of the television show will want to see how Hollywood has updated it, and more than likely they won't be pleased. This is pure pre-teen fluff, targeted towards the age group that can't (or shouldn't be able to) get in without adult accompaniment.
The Mod Squad begins similarly to the abomination that is William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet (which also starred Claire Danes): with a character-introduction sequence that handily lays out the main characters and their relationships to each other. The self-titled mod squad is comprised of Julie Barnes (Claire Danes), Pete Cochrane (Giovanni Ribisi), and semi-head leader Linc Hayes (Omar Epps). They've all been convicted of crimes and have one of two options: serve time in jail or help the police. Logic wins out, and the three choose to help. Unfortunately, there are rules: they can't use guns, they can't have badges, and they can't turn other kids in.
The plot, as far as I could tell, is pretty convoluted to the point of being indiscernable. The film begins without explaining to us what is going on, and it ends in similar fashion. What occurs between point A and point B doesn't seem to be of much importance. It's like watching the Indy 500--at first, it's intriguing, but after a while, it gets dull and tedious. In the end, we just don't care who wins anymore. It's even more disturbing when the plot doesn't make any sense, as is the case here. Somewhere in the film lies a complex plot of twists and turns, but the screenwriters (and it took three to write this thing) didn't pay much attention to it. Instead, they seem to like witty dialogue which there is plenty of. Wit does go a long way, and soon all attempts at humor turn into desperate grasps for the audience's attention.
Apparently, the film deals with a load of drugs taken by insiders from a police evidence locker. At first, the three mod squad members are suspect, but are discredited after some serious investigation by Captain Greer (Dennis Farina). Greer treats them as his own children, taking them under his wing and helping them along. He's like a father-figure to them... that is, until he is found dead with a baggie of the stolen cocaine from the police locker. Internal Affairs gets into the act, and now Julie, Linc, and Pete must fend for themselves, all while uncovering the mystery to who killed their captain.
It's a real shame that the plot isn't extracted and brought to the front of the script here, since it could have turned out to be a mini-L.A. Confidential. However, as is, it's a pathetic excuse for a film, striving to annoy anyone who watches while passing itself off as mindless entertainment. And to a certain extent, it is. The music is loud and catchy, the camerawork is flashy, and the direction is senseless. In reality, the only good aspect are the performances by the three leads, and even that is questionable due to poorly written characters. Maybe it's to their credit that they sustain the film from achieving a total sense of worthlessness.
Claire Danes has talent, and you can see that in some of her films. After her critically-lauded television show My So-Called Life was cancelled, she took to the big screen where she's never given a chance to shine. And then she hit a brick wall: William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. Thankfully for her, she survived that catastrophe and moved onto better things. Here, she brings her flat character to life, making us sympathize with her. It's a true sign of her talent that keeps us watching the screen. Omar Epps, last seen in Wes Craven's Scream 2, does a good job as the most serious of the three, acting as the stoic and intelligent leader. His personality is perfect for Giovanni Ribisi to play off of. Ribisi, who steals the film (if that's a positive term in this respect), gives what could be considered a lighter version of his character in The Other Sister, even going so far as to bark exactly the same way he did in that sentimental sap-fest. But Ribisi understands how absurd this really is, acting like a complete dufus. Whenever he's on screen, we become semi-interested in what is happening. As for the rest of the cast, no one is particularly impressive, including Dennis Farina who is usually very reliable. Sadly, Josh Brolin is downright awful as Julie's former love interest.
Director Scott Silver, who made a name for himself with critics after johns, seems completely inept here, not sure of what he is supposed to be doing. His action sequences are more comical, while his dramatic moments don't make any sense. He's effectively captured a similar mood of the 60s TV show, but there's nothing interesting to make us watch here. By the end, it seems that even he knows it's a bunch of crap. Throwing all sorts of music together and playing it as loud as he can, it would appear that he's making an MTV video. This probably isn't very far from the truth--at times, it even looks like one.
The Mod Squad is rated R for violence, profanity, sexual situations, and brief nudity. If you go to this film expecting anything at all, you are more than likely going to be disappointed. It's a pure mess of filmmaking, one that should have been relegated to the video stores before the big screen. Certainly, there's some fun to be had here, thanks to Ribisi's quirky performance. Other than that, it's a waste of time, money, and celluloid.
Rating:
out of