Blyss's Movie Review for:

Main Cast of Characters:

Claire Danes...........Julie Barnes

Omar Epps.........Lincoln Hayes

Giovanni Ribisi...........Pete Cochran

Dennis Farina.........Adam Greer

Richard Jenkins..........Bob Mothershed

Larry Brandenburg...........Tom Eckford

Lionel Mark Smith...........Earnie Lanier

Bodhi Elfman...........Gilbert

Josh Brolin...........Billy Waites

Sam McMurray...........Detective Tricky

1999. Rated: R. Genre: Action, Adventure, Suspense; 94 minutes

What are you? Some kind of Mod Squad?

Based on the vintage television show, 3 young people are sent to jail for various crimes and then recruited as undercover police officers as long as they stay in line. If they cross that line, they could be sent back. Julie Barnes, arrested for assault. Lincoln Hayes, arrested for arson. Pete Cochran, arrested for robbery. The movie begins with a police raid in which the three young people are helping the undercover police on a stakeout/sting operation. However, instead of just arresting the "bad guys" so to speak, they abuse their power, hitting kids and taking advantage. Julie socks Detective Tricky in the mouth for abusing his power. The three kids are brought before their superior, Adam Greer, after it is all over and he chews them out and tells them they need to straighten up. They find out that drugs have been stolen from the evidence locker and everyone is a suspect. After their briefing, Greer tells the rest of the department that if they have a problem with his squad, they will have to go through him. Julie, Pete, and Linc are then recruited to help bust a prostitution ring in a local bar. While they are kept busy, someone murders Greer and leaves drugs on him as if he were the man who had stolen it. But the kids know better. They disappear and swear to tell the same story. Linc saw a man get away that night he calls "leather pants" and knows he can get to the bottom of things if he can talk to him. The quest is on to find out the identity of Greer's murderer and the real thief of the drugs. But Pete, Linc, and Julie look guilty? How can three convicted felons get one over on someone when they look so guilty?

I never saw this movie at the theater but I wish I had. I remember when this film was all the rage for a while. When things seemed to go over real big, I would shy away from them for a while. But when I finally saw this film, I loved it! I taped it and watched it over and over again until my Mom bought a copy of it for me from a movie store. Plenty of action mixed with Ribisi's obvious comedy and Josh Brolin's handsome yet poisonous disposition as Billy makes this a great film to see again and again! One of my favorite parts of this movie is the first time that Pete drives Linc's car and gets it hit. He starts screaming and it is hilarious! Another great part is when Pete and Julie really bond together. Pete seems to see it for something that it obviously isn't. He seems to think that Julie is as attracted to him as he is to her. You kind of feel sorry for Pete. He had a rough childhood and his parents never seemed very accepting of anything that he did. It kind of gives you the feeling of why he did the things he did when he obviously had enough money to buy things without stealing them. This is one of my all-time favorite films! If you haven't seen it, rent it!

I rate this film: 9

Blyss