Gang Related MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -3 1/2

"Ho-hum, just another gang related homicide," police say as they investigate a violent shooting near a sleazy motel. At least that's what two crooked police detectives, Divinci (James Belushi) and Rodriguez (Tupac Shakur) know is usually said. They have quite a lucrative business of selling dope to drug dealers, then "blowing them away" and retrieving the dope for their next deal. Unfortunately, their latest victim turns out to be an undercover DEA agent and the detectives are assigned the task of bringing in the killer immediately. Divinci convinces Rodriguez they can pin the crime on some other sleazy criminal, but their luck seems to have run out. Finally Divinci finds a passed-out drunk homeless man who doesn't even know his own name and forces him to sign a confession under the name of Joe Doe (Dennis Quaid). One lie requires more lies, one killing demands another, and so it goes. The revelation of Joe's real identity has all the earmarks of a soap opera melodrama. GANG RELATED will attract mostly those who are gang related and who delight in "dirty cop" stories.

Every 60 seconds 2.92 foul words are spoken, starting with rap music during the opening credits, for a total of 273. Of these, 173 are f-words and 25 are G-ds. The balance of 75 include 36 s-words. The only intelligent use of language is in the too few courtroom scenes and those with Joe and his attorneys. Also disgusting is the worn out theme of police corruption used to entertain in a film that will attract kids who probably have no respect for authority. Divinci rationalizes that he is doing the public a favor by killing one more drug dealer, but he also has no qualms about killing whoever gets in his way, both friends and foes. There are three ruthless point-blank killings, all with gory scenes of bloody bodies. Other shootings and some brutal kicking and beating also take place. Rodriguez realizes the error of their ways, but it's too late to turn around the sordid mess. Divinci is married, but he spends most of his time with his girlfriend, a stripper. Rear nudity and some brief breast nudity is shown in a few club scenes. Sex is implied once in a bedroom scene. The best thing that can be said for GANG RELATED is that crime doesn't pay -- neither should you.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Orion Pictures, 1888 Century Park East, Los Angeles, CA 90067