Who doesn’t like gangsters? With that in mind, how can anyone turn down a movie titled “Gangster Squad” that is based on real gangsters who helped shape Los Angeles?

Well, unfortunately, I can tell you now the movie doesn’t quite live up to the potential imparted by the stellar actor list alongside the historically interesting events surrounding mob boss Mickey Cohen.

The “inspired by true events” bit falls onto the rather unfortunate list of other films claiming an “inspired by true events,” that being to really only borrow the names and feature a version of a couple events. This isn’t much of a surprise, though, as films rarely satisfy historians or adhere completely to what history tells us. In “Gangster Squad,” the events that make up Cohen’s rule of the City of Angels take a lot of leeway.

The actual plot is predictable. Yes, the movie is very, very clearly an action movie where the good guys take down the bad guys. It even has the death scene of a friend to spur the remaining heroes to the final confrontation. There is a bit of noir in the film, but it is overshadowed — rather burned away in a harsh light — by a design that is a bit too bright.

Do not fret, though. The movie is still a fun time. Sean Penn is an awesome villain as Cohen; however, at times, it feels as if he should have had a long, waxed mustache to twist a la Snidely Whiplash. The foil to Penn’s evil deeds comes from Josh Brolin as the uber-good guy cop. Brolin makes for a fine hero even though the writing for the character could have been improved. A fine number of other stars appear in supporting and cameo roles, all of which do a fine job acting out the rather cookie-cutter roles.

The action is a bit too overdone at times, and the gun play is, like the history of the film, lacking in accuracy of function; again though, it’s not terribly different from most other movies. Nevertheless, “Gangster Squad” is a fun time worth a watch at some point. By no means is it necessary to see in the theaters or in the near future, but eventually worth it.

It could have been a stellar film with the potential to garner award nods had the writing been given to someone with a different view of how to make a quality film. Director Ruben Fleischer was definitely the wrong choice to direct as he seemed to approach the movie in the same way he directed “Zombieland.” All in all, this is a movie that could have been a contender and holds on until the bell only due to the stopping power of the actors.