Review of The Mod Squad (1999) by Stuart K — 30 Apr 2014
Based upon the popular TV series that ran on ABC from 1968 to 1973, this adaptation was written and directed by Scott Silver (writer of 8 Mile (2002) and The Fighter (2010)), and co-written with Stephen Kay (Get Carter (2000) and Kate Lanier (What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)).
This was one of many adaptations of old TV shows that came out in the 1990's, but it's tone is all over the place. This tells the story of 3 teenage delinquents, Julie Barnes (Claire Danes), Pete Cochran (Giovanni Ribisi) and Lincoln Hayes (Omar Epps).
Who after various crimes and misdemeanors, face jail time, but when police Captain Adam Greer (Dennis Farina) decides to employ them as undercover cops, using the teen scene in Los Angeles as their opportunity to go undercover.
However, when Greer turns up dead, Barnes, Cochran and Hayes are all on their own, with no-one to go to and help them. They end up having to stay one step ahead of the police, and using their cunning and ingenuity to try and find Greer's killer, but the police don't believe they're undercover cops.
It's certainly not as bad as what some critics at the time made it out to be, but it could have been much better and it could have done with a more focused script and a more focused, tighter plot, because it ends up becoming a bit complicated and incoherent towards the film's climax.
This review of The Mod Squad (1999) was written by Stuart K on 30 Apr 2014.
The Mod Squad has generally received negative reviews.
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