Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Very violent tale of LAPD's real-life war against the mob.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Gangster Squad
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the film is an intense but enjoyable experience, featuring strong performances, especially from Sean Penn, and delivering plenty of action and violence that may not be suitable for younger audiences. While some viewers found it to be chaotic and criticized its predictable plot, others appreciated its historical setting and engaging portrayal of the fight against organized crime.
- strong performances
- intense action
- violent content
- predictable plot
- historical setting
- entertaining experience
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Los Angeles, 1949: The mob has gained a foothold, especially violent ex-boxer gangster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn), who's got the cops and judges completely in his pocket ... except for straight-arrow John O'Mara (Josh Brolin), who never got the memo and happily takes on any and all of Cohen's boys, even when other policemen whisper that everyone knows to leave Mickey's operations alone. With Cohen making plans to take over the entire West Coast gambling racket, O'Mara recruits a band of like-minded officers (played by Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, and Giovanni Ribisi) to form a secret GANGSTER SQUAD. Their mission: Take Cohen down, by any means necessary.
Is It Any Good?
A juicy, jazzy, good-versus-bad movie is a sight to behold, and Gangster Squad certainly fits the bill. It provides enough of the good stuff -- gorgeous clothes, swingy pacing, thrilling face-offs, and actors with pizzazz (hello, Ryan Gosling) -- to make it work. But as 1997's similarly themed L.A. CONFIDENTIAL proved, this kind of movie can also be complex, and that's what's missing in Gangster Squad, which is enjoyable but superficial. It looks noir, and it sometimes feels like noir, but there's no noir there.
What consumes Cohen? What drives him to rule and kill? (Surely there's more to it than bloodlust from a former boxing champ.) Why is O'Mara willing to set aside his noble lawfulness to go after Cohen? (Surely there's more to it than being a war veteran who wants the streets of L.A. to be safe for his newborn.) Ribisi's character, who joins O'Mara's vigilante team, hints at some of the deep conflicts that might have afflicted the likes of O'Mara, but the movie shies away from exploring it too much. It's a shame.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the gangster squad's methods. Do the ends justify the means? Is it OK for them to basically wage war against the mob on the city streets, instead of using legal means such as warrants and due process?
How does the violence in Gangster Squad compare to what you might see in a horror movie? Which has more impact? Why?
Gangster Squad is based on real-life events. What do you think about a town that's as brazenly corrupt as this version of Los Angeles in 1949?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 11, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : April 23, 2013
- Cast : Emma Stone , Ryan Gosling , Sean Penn
- Director : Ruben Fleischer
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : History
- Run time : 113 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence and language
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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