The Sweeney

Another week, another reboot. This time it's the much loved 1970s cop TV series that gets the big screen makeover with the all-new cast, featuring detective partners Ray Winstone as Jack Regan and Ben Drew as George Carter. As members of London's Metropolitan Police "Flying Squad", Regan and Carter are tasked with investigating an armed robbery that results in a seemingly needless murder. Owing to their unorthodox methods, the team are also facing an internal investigation led by Ivan Lewis (Steven Mackintosh), whose estranged wife Nancy (Hayley Atwell) is Regan's secret squeeze. Blimey Guv'nor, there's gonna be some conflict there!

Set in present day London, this feels nothing like the original TV series. Still, all the usual police drama cliches are there: the rogue cop who plays by his own rules, the loyal sidekick eager to prove his worth, the police chief breathing down their necks and the cartoonish baddie we all want to see go down for "a long, long time, sunshine". Ray Winstone's Regan is a more ruthless Cockney beast but one which lacks the charisma of the late John Thaw, the original Jack Regan. The ever-so-serious Ben Drew fares even worse as Carter, with his sleepy monotone delivery.

The film looks glossy and dark, action scenes (including a frantic Trafalgar Square shoot-out) are handled fairly well, and there's even a dash of humour to start with, but the script is a regular by-the-numbers procedural with minor plot holes and no surprises. Lorne Balfe's intense score is good but at times ill-fitting, sounding like out-takes from Hans Zimmer's Inception (which Balfe produced!). An unlikely love affair and a drawn out final act seal the deal, and sadly this "update" amounts to no more than forgettable brainless entertainment.

UK release date: 12th September 2012