Common Sense Media Review
By Jenny Nixon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Uninspired female-led action-comedy has violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
L.A.'s Finest
What's the Story?
L.A.'S FINEST is an action-comedy spinoff series inspired by the hit film series Bad Boys. Gabrielle Union reprises her film role as Syd Burnett, an ex-DEA agent who has left Miami to make a name for herself as a detective within the LAPD. Jessica Alba plays her partner, Nancy McKenna, a slightly uptight wife (her husband's an up-and-coming district attorney) and stepmom who has a complicated past. Together, the women work to protect kidnapped kids, bust up drug cartels, and learn to get along as both co-workers and friends.
Is It Any Good?
Gabrielle Union does a lot of heavy lifting here; her confidence and charisma are the show's main assets -- but it's not enough to buoy the mediocre storylines. It usually employs "bad guy of the week" plots with far too many goofy in-jokes, and nods to the film franchise that inspired it are constant. The show is also seemingly at a loss when it comes to keeping Syd and Nancy's character development consistent; their basic personalities change on a whim to suit the plot, and Alba is never really believable as an ex-Navy ballistics expert.
And for a show that seems to enjoy pumping up the "female empowerment" angle, L.A.'s Finest sure does revel in objectifying its female leads. Never in the history of law enforcement has a lipgloss had such staying power. It's hard to imagine an audience sticking with this series for very long, especially since the show can't really nail down what it's trying to say.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about other films that have been spun off into television shows. How many examples can you think of? Which have made the transition most successfully, in your opinion? Did L.A.'s Finest make a successful transition?
What elements make for a good police show? Is it the plotlines? The characters? The action? How does mixing in other genres, like comedy, help or hinder a show?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 13, 2019
- Cast : Gabrielle Union , Jessica Alba , Zach Gilford , Ernie Hudson , Duane Martin , Evan Handler
- Network : Spectrum
- Genre : Action
- TV rating :
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
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