Summer Cinema: ‘S.W.A.T.’
It’s about time we had an action movie that was character driven, and “S.W.A.T.” is that. But even that treat couldn’t make this fun movie a great one.
“S.W.A.T.” tells the story of a group of underdog policemen including Jim Street (Colin Farrell), Chris Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez), Deke Kaye (LL Cool Jay), Michael Boxer (Brian Van Holt) and T.J. McCabe (Josh Charles) who are formed into a new S.W.A.T. unit by Dan “Hondo” Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson). The group is enlisted to guard an international prisoner named Alex Montel (Olivier Martinez) on his way to a federal penitentiary.
When captured, Montel offer $100 million to anyone who will help him escape. Brian Gamble (Jeremy Renner), an ex-S.W.A.T. agent and Street’s old partner, accept his offer. The group of underdogs must prove themselves by recapturing Montel and foiling Gamble’s attempts to entrap them.
The movie is fun. Like all good action movies it has lots of explosions, gun fire and fist fights. It also takes the time to give each character a personality you can relate to. You get to know them and their families and the things that drive them. Unfortunately most of these characters are stereotypical cardboard cutouts. Farrell and Rodriguez are even typecast into the parts they always seem to play—Farrell as the tough guy tortured by his inner demons, and Rodriguez as the girl who has to prove she can outdo the guys. I swear the last three movies I have seen with Farrell have to have at least one scene of him boxing.
“S.W.A.T.,” based on the TV show of the same name, was a fun concept. Americans seem to be obsessed with our police and fire forces since the Sept. 11 attacks, and this film glamorizes the idea of taking out the bad guys and saving the hostages. The film tries to help the audience connect with the less-glamorous side, but this weak attempt at reality is lost in the danger-ridden world of downtown Los Angeles. Somehow I can’t believe that the situations depicted in the film could actually happen. Of well, that’s Hollywood for you.
Funny enough, I ended up sitting next to my good friend the chief of police in Logan during the movie. I asked him if watching “S.W.A.T.” made him want to move to California so he could get in all the action. Laughing he said, “As if that’s the way it really is. No thanks, I’ll take Logan.”
Me too, and although “S.W.A.T.” had its moments, I think I’ll let this bit of sugarcoated pyrotechnics blow on down the line.
Grade: B-