Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte
Running time: 113 minutes
Certificate: 15
Synopsis: Sgt. John O’Mara leads a ruthless team of cops who plan to take down LA mob boss Mickey Cohen by playing him at his own game…
After ZOMBIELAND and 30 MINUTES OR LESS, Ruben Fleischer sets his sights on less overtly comedic material and pays homage to the gangster flicks that built Warner Bros. But GANGSTER SQUAD is not the gritty, straight-shooting affair it might have been in another director’s hands; Fleischer maintains a sense of fun, and never allows GANGSTER SQUAD to take itself too seriously. With its quick wit, bold characters, and occasional ultra-violence, it plays out like the comic book version of LA CONFIDENTIAL.
The film’s major draw is its ensemble cast, not only reuniting CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE sweethearts Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, but also throwing the ever-appealing Josh Brolin and Sean Penn into the mix along with a solid cast of supporting actors. Some of the characters might have been crudely drawn stereotypes, with their individual fates obvious from the get-go, but they’re nonetheless suitably likeable or repellent in equal measure. The creative team has clearly had enormous fun realising a cast of colourful heroes and villains, from one-eyed henchmen to wizened crack-shot coppers.
Unfortunately, some of the characters feel criminally underused, most notably Emma Stone’s moll Grace. She may look amazing, but she’s of little consequence until the final act, and symptomatic of a script that’s just going through the motions. Indeed, GANGSTER SQUAD offers no surprises; they might be plenty of fun, but we’ve seen every beat and cliché before. After a blistering opening sequence – including some imaginative cartoon violence that unfortunately peters out – the action shifts down a gear and the story coasts leisurely to the finale.
Despite its shortcomings, GANSGTER SQUAD does exactly what’s required for a decent mob movie. It’s funny, tense, and exciting when it needs to be, and boasts enough car chases and rat-a-tat Tommy guns to ensure things are never dull – the playful reimagining of real events and characters is also enjoyable. Audiences might have hoped for something little more dynamic, but GANGSTER SQUAD remains everything that’s made the genre popular since James Cagney stood on top of the world. It’s nothing new, but there’s also nothing wrong with that.
GANGSTER SQUAD arrives in UK cinemas 10th January and US cinemas 11th.
