Gangster Squad, from Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer, is another film that proudly boasts of its “inspired by a true story” pedigree.

Telling the story of notorious gangster Mickey Cohen, and the squad of police officers who were tasked with taking him down, don’t expect true-to-life accuracy, or a detailed period study. Mickey Cohen was indeed a real gangster, but that’s likely where the “true story” aspect ends. And while the film is a visually arresting, often exhilarating affair, it’s extremely light on anything resembling substance.

Taking it upon himself to stem the tide of crime that’s threatening to engulf Los Angeles, Police Chief Bill Parker (Nick Nolte) recruits a wildcard officer to put together a squad of six men capable of taking down head gangster Mickey Cohen. Giving them license to circumnavigate the law, they’re acting more as vigilantes than officers of the law.

The film is something of an ensemble affair, starring Josh Brolin as violent-but-effective Sgt. O’Mara, and Sean Penn as his nemesis Cohen. Brolin is suitably grizzled (as is pretty much everyone in the film), while Penn hams it up magnificently as Mickey Cohen, chewing scenery with relish.

Also present is Ryan Gosling, who slinks handsomely around the screen in a snazzy suit as Sgt. Wooters, tugging on a cigarette, and doing everything possible to continue his reputation as the sexiest man alive.  Combined with Emma Stone – born to play the gangster’s moll role she plays here – they’re a couple that sizzles.

The Squad is rounded out by Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena, Giovanni Ribisi (the heart of the film), and Robert Patrick, who steals every scene he’s in as Wild West throwback and expert gunslinger Detective Kennard.

In fact, the entire film – featuring, as it does, an evil land baron, a group of outlaws, and myriad shoot-outs – is as much a throwback to the Western genre, as it is to gangster films. The Magnificent Six, if you will.

There’s also a distinctly graphic novel feel to proceedings, reminiscent of Sin City (with which it shares some pretty graphic violence), or even recent video games like L.A. Noire.

Unfortunately, while the style of the film is sublime, the script falls tragically short, being far too on the nose for the most part. We know that our heroes are having to lower themselves to the level of criminals in order to catch the criminals – that’s more just text than subtext – so to then have the characters spell it out in plain English is tedious and unnecessary. Some of the throw-away one-liners and period parlance is entertaining, but the obvious script has little to say – and none of it new.

Still, Gangster Squad is a film that’s all about style – from the costumes to the sets to the cinematography – and there are some gorgeous sequences to behold. A car chase, featuring the use of early grenades, is one of the most exhilarating in years, and a shoot-out across a table filled with Christmas decorations and presents is a wonderfully juxtaposed image.

There are other flourishes that highlight the comic-book aesthetic, such as a fight lit only in quick flashes, as guns are fired off in the dark, which are extremely effective.

Essentially, what we have with Gangster Squad is the gangster genre and its various clichés diluted and boiled down to their purest form. All of the clichés are present and correct, and the plot holds few surprises (in fact, it’s rather too predictable on the whole).

It might not be as good as the films it aspires to sit alongside – The Untouchables, Chinatown, even TV’s Boardwalk Empire – but that doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining. You won’t see many more handsome films, and the performances are entertaining across the board – no more than you’d expect with such a classy cast assembled. And if it’s perhaps a little sketchy on the facts, Fleischer and cinematographer Dion Beebe at least capture the look and feel of the period marvellously.  If only they had paid a little more attention to the lightweight script.

Released in UK cinemas on Thursday 10 January 2013.