Arts, Etc.Movies

Movie Review: Despite big name lineup ‘Mod Squad’ old, tired

Actors Claire Danes, Giovanni Ribisi and Omar Epps appeared at the MGM Studios Monday for a screening of their new film, "The Mod Squad." The screening was for members of the college press consisting of reporters and photographers from surrounding colleges. Following the preview, a question and answer session was held with the actors. The film contemporizes the late 1960s television series of the same name, and will be released March 26. / photo by Laura Ambriz
Actors Claire Danes, Giovanni Ribisi and Omar Epps appeared at the MGM Studios Monday for a screening of their new film, “The Mod Squad.” The screening was for members of the college press consisting of reporters and photographers from surrounding colleges. Following the preview, a question and answer session was held with the actors. The film contemporizes the late 1960s television series of the same name, and will be released March 26. / photo by Laura Ambriz

by Greg MacDonald
Editor in Chief

“The Mod Squad” has all the makings for a great film. It has big names. It was a popular television program. And it has the man, who seems to turn everything he touches into to gold, Aaron Spelling, as one of its executive producers.

Combine that with the star power of Claire Danes (“William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet”), Omar Epps (“Scream 2”) and Giovanni Ribisi (“Saving Private Ryan”), “The Mod Squad” seems ready to serve as an action-packed remake of the 1960s television show.

But there is a difference between the written script and actual product. “The Mod Squad” leaves the viewing audience with questions about the storyline, the characters and the $7.50 ticket for the film.

The plot is lost from the opening scene, as the squad, Julie Barnes (Danes), Lincoln Hayes (Epps) and Pete Cochrane (Ribisi), is staking out a downtown Los Angeles party for drugs. But the fact they are working for the police department is not known until after they get caught by officers.

It is then in the police department, where Captain Adam Greer (Dennis Farina) fills in the missing piece of the story, letting the viewer know the squad is working undercover.

After Captain Greer reassigns the trio to another drug stake out , the squad is set to find the drugs that disappeared from the LAPD’s evidence lockers. Not to be mistaken for suspense, however, since the viewer does not know this dirty cop theory until after the squad is already into its stakeout.

Many problems occur for each member of the squad in their run-ins at the club. Barnes meets an ex-boyfriend, but this is again an assumption. Cochrane gets kicked out of the club for fighting, after his attempt to blend in. And Hayes, who is hardly heard from the entire movie, views a drug pickup. Each of these factors help the group find the different pieces of the crime puzzle.

Almost as if the cameras followed around the three on their daily adventures, the film drags on with scenes of the squad on an all-night stake out and their struggles to find the drug swindlers.

Each member has come to terms with each other, as they find out that they cannot trust anyone but themselves. Eventually, the squad is able to put itself in position to solve the dilemma.

The film did have some enjoyable scenes and moments during its 94 minutes. The relationship between Cochrane and Hayes is always under a microscope because Cochrane slowly, but accidentally, destroys Hayes’ car, whether it be in an accident or with the convertible top down while driving through a car wash.

“The Mod Squad” had the makings for a good one, but after long, drawn out scenes and a lack of plot and character development, wait until a local video store has a “rent one, get one free” deal to see this film.

Greg MacDonald
Other Stories Bio
Laura Ambriz
Other Stories Bio
Previous article
Landises donate $3.2 million to LV
Next article
Letter to the Editor

Latest Stories

Related articles

Arts, Etc.

Movie Review: ‘The Drama’ brings moral complexity to the big screen

“The Drama” was released in theaters last Friday. I had been eagerly anticipating this film since the stars – Zendaya and Robert Pattinson – were seen filming in the streets of Boston in late 2024.
Arts, Etc.

Movie Review: ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ is an unnecessary sequel

“The Exorcist: Believer” was released in theaters last Friday. As a fan of “The Exorcist” and horror movie buff, I had high hopes for the sequel, especially since it had been 50 years in the making.
Arts, Etc.

Movie Review: ‘Beau is Afraid’ and Aster has mommy issues

Writer and director Ari Aster is back in theaters with his new A24 film, “Beau is Afraid,” a three hour-long horror comedy that depicts anxiety and mommy issues in the most confusing, abstract way.
Arts, Etc.

Movie Review: ‘Evil Dead Rise’ is the movie horror fans have been waiting for

“Evil Dead Rise” was released on April 21, 10 years after the “Evil Dead” remake, released in 2013, and the fifth installment in the movie franchise.