'The Cleaner' review

(Credit: Jay Silverman/A&E)

An emaciated Benjamin Bratt stars in “The Cleaner,” A&E’s new scripted drama about substance abuse, the restorative power of faith—and the sheer watchability of babes in Lamborghinis.

Who’s that? Think of “The Cleaner” as the male “Saving Grace.” Instead of Holly Hunter, you’ve got Benjamin Bratt. Instead of alcoholism, you’ve got drug addiction. And in place of Earl the Angel, Grace’s winged confidant, Bratt’s character can communicate with G-O-D himself. Now that’s star power!

Buzzed about: "Battlestar Galactica”’s Grace Park plays Akani, the requisite sexy wild card on Banks’ team. But have she and family man Banks been making sexy wild card whoopee on the side?

The “ooh” factor: “The Cleaner” is stylishly shot, and Bratt brings complexity (and a killer reformed-addict goatee) to the role of the troubled protagonist who’ll stop at nothing to help addicts get cleaned up.

The “eh” factor: In the pilot, the crime boss Banks must take down is comically one-dimensional (need help in determining his evilness? His office is decorated with Nazi paraphernalia and a confederate flag). Bratt punches first and asks questions later, and the show quickly devolves into “Walker, Texas Ranger.”

The verdict: For a show about a recovering drug addict who assembles a crack team of reformed misfits while juggling domestic responsibilities and—oh yeah—communicating with the Almighty, “The Cleaner” is a taut, lucid drama that’s a step in the right direction for a network that’ll itself have to answer to God one day for “The Two Coreys” and “Criss Angel: Mindfreak.”

“The Cleaner” premieres Tuesday, July 15, at 10pm ET/PT on A&E.

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