Gangster Squad is, for the most part, good fun. Don't expect a dark, twist-filled plot that movies like Goodfellas and The Departed managed to deliver. This is an action movie, plain and simple. It's like a mob movie for teenagers.
First, the pros. Gangster Squad is loaded with Hollywood's most familiar faces, even Terminator 2's Robert Patrick. It's always good to see people that you recognize from other films, especially if you tend to like their work. Secondly, I always like when there's a team of heroes in a movie. Something about watching different characters interact and form strategies with each other is a thrill on its own. There are also some very impressive moments from Sean Penn.
The cons. The script is pretty dry. No one ever says anything particularly interesting; every line is used to simply move the plot along, not to add to it. Sean Penn is convincing enough and has good moments, but he is for the most part poorly used. He is a pure caricature of evil. I can't quite explain it, but he's not terrifying to watch. He isn't a memorable villain. This leads to my next complaint: it doesn't feel like there is anything at stake. We are told what's at stake, but we know better than that, as seasoned moviegoers. I found the final showdown to be boring and anti-climactic.
In short, rent it. It's worth seeing once if you like action movies.
**1/2 / *****
First, the pros. Gangster Squad is loaded with Hollywood's most familiar faces, even Terminator 2's Robert Patrick. It's always good to see people that you recognize from other films, especially if you tend to like their work. Secondly, I always like when there's a team of heroes in a movie. Something about watching different characters interact and form strategies with each other is a thrill on its own. There are also some very impressive moments from Sean Penn.
The cons. The script is pretty dry. No one ever says anything particularly interesting; every line is used to simply move the plot along, not to add to it. Sean Penn is convincing enough and has good moments, but he is for the most part poorly used. He is a pure caricature of evil. I can't quite explain it, but he's not terrifying to watch. He isn't a memorable villain. This leads to my next complaint: it doesn't feel like there is anything at stake. We are told what's at stake, but we know better than that, as seasoned moviegoers. I found the final showdown to be boring and anti-climactic.
In short, rent it. It's worth seeing once if you like action movies.
**1/2 / *****