When it comes to TV movies I must say that TNT definitely climbs to the top of my list, with ABC and USA a close second therefore I was quite interested once the preview for Bad Apple hit my doorstep considering it starred Chris Noth who also played in TNT’s adaptation on the life of Julius Caesar in Caesar, which I must say I enjoyed thoroughly.
As for Bad Apple it isn’t exactly the quality Caesar was and it is a little bit of a misguided affair that could be classified more as a “cop caper” than an actual crime drama considering the characters are a little goofy.
Viewers however will recognize other actors such as Colm Meany (Con Air) and Elliott Gould (Ocean’s Eleven) as they add a bit of that movie feel elevating this one a notch above most made-for-tv movies, but it isn’t enough.
Bad Apple tells the story of FBI agents Mike Tozzi (Noth) and Cuthbert Gibbons (Meany) as they attempt to capture Buddha Stanzione (Gould), a mob kingpin and Tony Bells (Patrick), a local wise guy.
The story gets tied up in Tozzi’s love life and very little action keeping you from getting really interested. A bit more action may have helped keep my attention but I was drawn to try to do something other than finish the flick, but I did, and I can say it wasn’t too bad, but no Caesar.
When grading a made-for-TV movie new standards must be taken in grading it since they don’t carry the budgets of feature films, but must still be able to sell advertising.
While audiences are sure to watch after they get bombarded with previews during NBA All-Star Weekend, and I will say that for a TV-movie it ain’t too bad, but I was left wanting more.
Bad Apple premieres Monday, Feb. 16, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on TNT.
