The Mod Squad (1999): Dir: Scott Silver / Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Claire Danes, Omar Epps, Dennis Farina, Josh Brolin: Idiotic film based on a TV show and never displaying a thread of suspense. The three principal characters are introduced quickly and thrown right into the middle of an action chase sequence. The squad is played by Claire Danes, Giovanni Ribisi and Omar Epps with Dennis Farina as their boss who employs them as cops because they can blend in better. They will need to blend into something after being associated with this shame. Then Farina is murdered with drugs found on him and the squad is picked up for questioning. Director Scott Silver does his best with the deadpan script but is backed by high powered action scenes. The characters are seen as types as oppose to personalities. They are basically suppose to fly about the screen and make violent contact with faceless thugs. Ribisi, Danes and Epps are far too talented for this pointless charade, and Farina is capable of much better than playing the ever familiar boss who ends up dead. Josh Brolin is another case of wasted talent in this pathetic charade nonsense. The film exists for its T.V. inspiration and it is a failure in every aspect. The screenplay requires more energy and detail than presented here. As a result the filmmakers released a pitiful excuse for a film worthy of a mob stomping. Score: 2 / 10
Review of The Mod Squad
