<Review by: Sailesh Ghelani>

Directed by Ruben Fleischer. Starring Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Robert Patrick, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Pena, Nick Nolte, Mireille Enos

This homage to gangster films that’s more Dick Tracy than The Untouchables doesn’t have a stand out plot. It does however have lots of attitude, some witty dialogue, nice camera work and a whole lot of good actors doing what they can to make formula more fun.

“The whole town is under water and you’re grabbing a bucket when you should be grabbing a bathing suit,” is the type of dialogue that you just can’t seem to find in movies today. Gangster Squad has lots of it mostly coming out of the mouth of suave, smart ass Jerry Wooters’ mouth. He’s played by the hunky and talented Ryan Gosling, a name to watch out for in the future.

The whole movie is set in late 1940s LA, a time when psycho gang box Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) has taken over Los Angeles and bought out most of the cops and politicians. Running prostitution, gambling and betting operations he is the law, as they say. But a few good men are just waiting to be let loose and Police Chief Bill Parker (Nick Nolte) calls in one such man, Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) to band together a team and drive Mickey Cohen out by any means necessary. This scene in particular seems a bit rushed though.

Now, the story isn’t new, neither is it extraordinary but director Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) has given it – what most people bandy about recklessly and meaninglessly – some edge. He’s given us Sean Penn whose face seems like something out of that Dick Tracy movie from the 80s with Warren Beatty and whose attitude is clearly one of a mad man overdosing on power and delusions of grandeur (sometimes to over the top proportions). Josh Brolin as the no-nonsense war veteran who only knows how to fight is the picture of machismo. This was a time when men were men and women were women and they all dressed up, even to kill.

Ryan Gosling has some of the best lines and he delivers them with panache so fresh and frothy that you can’t help but give a bit of a weak-kneed giggle (yes, even the guys). Emma Stone as Mickey Cohen’s ‘etiquette teacher’ Grace who doubles up as Ryan’s love interest is suitably fetching but this is really a story about the lads. The camaraderie and characters of the men on a mission. The chemistry here is good, if a bit formula (the mandatory black man, a Hispanic thrown in to represent the new LA).

The period has been captured in all of its neon glory with live bands, shoeshine boys, Cadillacs and lots of ‘Smoking Is Injurious to your Health’ moments. Steve Jablonsky’s music is thumping (almost like Dark Knight Rises) and complements some of the brilliantly choreographed fight sequences, some of which look like poetry in motion. I must also mention Mireille Enos who plays O’Mara’s wife in the movie. Though a subtle role she has done a brilliant job of the expecting mom who wants her honest cop husband alive but still supports him when he has to go out and get the bad guys. Cause that’s what a good woman does for her man.

Gangster Squad is like a 5 dollar hooker covered up in 50 dollar make-up. You’ll enjoy the ride while it lasts if you don’t look at it too closely.