Jamie
It’s hard to explain The Mod Squad. That’s not just because the Wikipedia page admits that “this article needs an improved plot summary” (don’t mind if I do), but because there are only a few moments in time where this movie is made. You need a time when there was a recent TV-to-film success that then begets a spate of attempts to convert that era into $$$. Think about the success of 21 Jump Street that then begets CHiPs and Baywatch. It’s just like that but weirdly in this case it seems like it’s the success of the meta Brady Bunch movie that then produces The Mod Squad. While seemingly totally unrelated, both TV shows come from around the same era (as does The Avengers, Wild Wild West and Mission: Impossible). Unfortunately I don’t think they winked quite enough in this case.
To recap, Julie, Pete and Linc are The Mod Squad. Detective Mothersed is all like “What are you guys, some mod squad?” and he’s right, they are. They are handled by Captain Greer, who loves them even though he wants them to get a handle on their lives and figure out that crime doesn’t pay, but being dope police officers does. For now they are just like extra cool informants that are sent undercover. Their latest gig is a bar where maybe some prostitution or something is going down. Julie finds out that her ex-BF runs the place and they rekindle their relationship. Pete and Linc notice that something shady is going on and ultimately this culminates in them going to a drug sale under a bridge and finding Greer shot. It seems like he’s a dirty cop, but the squad just can’t believe it. Now it’s personal. Julie soon finds out that her BF is a total bad guy (duh) working for some big time drug dealer and Pete also finds that Mothersed and a bunch of other cops are totally in on it (double duh) and framed Greer. This culminates in them trying to take them all down, but getting caught up in the bust. It looks like it’s the end for the Mod Squad. Not so fast! Pete made a recording and totally nails them all. Heroes again! Hooray! THE END.
Aw man. I feel kind of bad for The Mod Squad. It’s lame in a way that makes you feel kind of bad for it (while also acknowledging that at the time I think the style was cool and hip). You see these young actors and they are charismatic and you want it to be OK, but they cannot save this script. And it makes them look bad saying the lines. There are a few good things here and there, but I just can’t believe this is the script they made. The entire twist is airmailed to the point that I started to second guess myself. Like “well that can’t actually be the twist because otherwise this would be the worst script in history” line of thinking. And then they did it. When two-time Academy Award nominee Richard Jenkins comes in and is like “I hate all of you. You suck.” and then 10 minutes later, after The Mod Squad’s handler is killed, he walks in all like “Yo, guys. I’m sooo sorry.” I was like WTF, he’s the bad guy. And I was right. It’s like a script for a bad TV show… wait… What thuuuuuuu.
Hot Take Clam Bake! I’m gonna say it. I don’t think Julie and Pete are going to last as a couple. What’s that? I never mentioned that in the middle of this film, after Claire Danes has been banging Josh Brolin for days, she turns around and realizes that rich-kid-turned-criminal-turned-annoying-mod-squader Giovanni Ribisi is actually totes her type and they start up a secret romance? This should be in the dictionary under “rebound relationship.” She’s a recovering addict who just got back into it with her bad boy ex-beau and got totally betrayed and here comes Ribisi being like “um, er, I actually kind of like you. Don’t you wanna date a nice guy for once, madam.” and she’s like “yeah, maybe that is what I want.” Spoiler alert for The Mod Squad 2: Even Modder, it’s not what she wants. Hot Take Temperature: Ribisi Snake Dance
Patrick?
Patrick
‘Ello everyone! Remember The Mod Squad? You know, that old tv show. Well neither did anyone else. Let’s go!
I’m going to be honest here … I barely remember this movie.
I do remember that Giovanni Ribisi is terrible in it. Like genuinely very bad at acting in it. And that makes it all the more insane that he’s the one that they give the low interest storyline to. Just makes no sense. There was something about films of this era where people seem specifically rather annoying?
And then the mystery is dumb as well. It all seemed rather obvious. Or … well I would except the plot summary on wikipedia is rather sparse and I genuinely am having a very hard time remembering this film. It was Josh Brolin right? Josh Brolin was the bad guy. See, obvious.
As long as I’m right. I’m like 95% sure I’m right.
Anything good about this film? Omar Epps was pretty charming, although the way he hunch-walks around was bizarre … I’m going to chalk that up to poor character choices or a homage to the original show or something. But he’s charming and the bit about his car getting all f-ed up was decent.
I’m going to say this film is so forgettable and boring that it can’t really be BMT, right? This ain’t no Avengers where it is so weird you end up being charmed by it. It is literally just quite dull and unamusing.
It is pretty rare but Setting as a Character (Where?) for Los Angeles here as the entire film appears in a sepia tone to indicate that it is the vague hot desert-y aura of Southern California. And obviously Worst Twist (How?) for the ultimate reveal that, obviously, Josh Brolin was the bad guy.
What else can we learn about mods? Find out in the Quiz. Cheerios,
The Sklogs
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