NO CODE OF CONDUCT

US, 1998, 90 minutes, Colour.
Charles Sheen, Martin Sheen, Paul Gleason, Meredith Salinger.
Directed by Bret Michaels.

No Code of Conduct is a routine drugs action drama. Though made for the big screen, it is more of a straight to video movie.

The principal interest is in seeing Charles Sheen (so billed as executive producer, co-writer and star) work with his father, Martin Sheen. They appeared together in Wall Street.

The film is a predictable enough story: Sheen Senior as the veteran police officer, Sheen Junior as a type of maverick in difficulties with his wife and family (Meredith Salinger as his wife). There are various buddies in the police force. The drug gang is led by a well-to-do citizen of the city, and the police chief of the DEA is in league with him. There are chases, confrontations, abductions and a final shootout and a huge explosion for the drugs conversion factory. The film was co-written and directed by Bret Michaels.

1. Standard drug-bust melodrama? The Arizona settings? The Hispanic drug dealers? Solid citizens heading drug rings? DEA chiefs in league with them? The good guy police?

2. The Arizona settings, action sequences? Giving the film an atmosphere of credibility?

3. The title and the reference to those involved in drugs? Santo and his not touching drugs - but as a businessman making money out of them because someone has to?

4. The opening, the drug dealers, their contacts, torturing the young woman to recover the drugs? The undercover cop refusing to kill her? The shootout? The moving of the drugs, the shootout at the motel and the irony of the undercover Vice policewoman involved in a mugging and robbery at the same time as the drug delivery? Regrouping, the abduction of Jake's wife? The sleazy nightclub? The head of the gang taking Rebecca and drugging her, putting her in the cage in the nightclub? The build-up to the final confrontation, the shootout and the explosion?

5. Jake, his background in the Vice Squad, helping his father with the training of recruits? Difficulties at home? His friendship with the former partner in the Vice Squad? His talking his fellow officer out of committing suicide when he was losing his wife and children? Late for the birthday party? The apologies, Rebecca wanting a divorce? Her reliance on Jake's father?

6. Peterson, his work in training, on-the-spot action? The encounter with the DEA boss? The stakeout, writing down the wrong numberplate of the van? The van and the pursuit? The drugs? The confrontation with Jake? The plan, the club, taking the two drug dealers as hostages, entering the building, the confrontation and the shootout?

7. Jake and his working with his partner? Training? The pursuit of the van? Getting their friend to open up and discovering the drugs?

8. Jake, his child not taken, the phone call about the abduction of Rebecca? The pursuit, the plan - and its successful execution?

9. The themes of respectable citizens making money out of drugs? The ordinary law enforcement agencies hampered by insider information to the criminals?

10. The resolution of the film - the crooks destroyed, the drugs destroyed, the ordinary hero saving the day?