The Mod Squad

Review by James Anthony

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While we don't want to go too deeply into the following thought, it's fair to say that good-looking young people don't really have a fun time in jail.

So, if you are a troublesome type and feel like annoying cops, nicking stuff or being a yobbo, you have a painful time ahead if you offend and reoffend. Still, three good-looking young Americans get offered a way to avoid prison - and that is to join up with the police as a special undercover unit - The Mod Squad.

Now, for those of us old enough to remember the original television series - with a really cool and hip trio in the main roles - the remake for the big screen/DVD was always going to be interesting.

Thank God, however, that the afro and flared pants have gone, but the 1960s styles have been replaced with late-'90s style, and I'm not sure which is worse. The '60s were embarrassing, but, hey, hippies were pretty naive. The 90s' mob has no excuse for having such a crew of so-cools that they seem to have no personality.

The exception is Giovanni Ribisi, best known for Saving Private Ryan, who is also becoming highly rated for his portrayal of slightly-psycho characters. In The Mod Squad, he is an aggro rich boy but, fortunately, injects a bit of life into a yarn that is seriously in need of a script transplant.

Technically, the DVD is very good with few image problems and the sound being pretty damn good. The soundtrack is terrific and, together with the photography, gives the effort a style that the plot and script fail to do.

It's fair to say that The Mod Squad will appeal to teens more than older DVD watchers, as they will undoubtedly get a bigger charge out of watching Claire Danes than this chappie.

Disappointing.

Conclusion: Movie 70%, Extras 20%

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