Starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Bill Murray, Tim Curry, Sam
Rockwell, Kelly Lynch, Crispin Glover, Tom Green, Luke Wilson, Matt LeBlanc, John
Forsythe, LL Cool J. Directed by McG. Written by a ton of Hollywood writers.
Knox (Rockwell) has been kidnapped and his groud-breaking voice-recognition software
has been stolen. Roger Corwin (Curry), ego-maniacal CEO of Red Star Software is
believed by Knox's partner Vivian Wood (Lynch) to be behind the kidnapping. She
hires Charlie Townsend's (Forsythe) agency to track down kidnappers, return Knox and
find the software. Natalie (Diaz), Dylan (Barrymore) and Alex (Liu) are Charlie's
Angels, dancers and bikini-waxers to their friends and loved ones, but undercover
private investigators on the side.
The angels infiltrate a Red Star party and find a nefarious Thin Man (Glover) who
was involved in the kidnapping, follow him, and are lead to Knox. He is freed
unharmed. Just when the Angels figure they have the case solved, an unexpected
twist occurs. Things aren't what they initially seem, and those behind the kidnapping
have plans far beyond kidnapping and stealing computer software.
As you can guess from the above description, there isn't much of a plot. But when
you go through more than a dozen writers as this film did, a cohesive story is not
likely in the cards. Stories were reported of on-set fighting, production delays
and being way over budget, all bad signs. Yet, Charlie's Angels works.
It works for three reasons. Firstly, unlike the poorly acted and fluffy TV series
of the 70's, the film concentrates on the action, and it is handled expertly. The
film begins with a thrilling opening skydiving scene which rivals and beats just
about any James Bond opener. The Angels have been updated to the 90's and are expert
in the martial arts, and the fight sequences are beautifully filmed and choreographed.
Secondly, the film doesn't take itself too seriously. In the opening sequence,
LL Cool J cuts up cheesy 70's shows being made into movies plane, and thereafter
in scene after scene, characters crack jokes and speak in double entendres. The
actors genuinely seem to be having fun.
Thirdly, the film
moves at a quick pace and provides something for both men and women to enjoy. Females
can enjoy strong and assertive woman kicking their less intelligent male counterparts
around. The Matt Leblanc and Luke Wilson characters are at least as pretty (and
as much airheads) as any of the females, and it is the female characters who are
generally in control (the Angels are the ones who must save the damsel in distress
Bosley). Males can enjoy the action, as well as the high jiggle quotient.
The movie never misses a chance to allow Cameron Diaz to dance and shake her booty.
Tight clothes abound, and cleavage is in ample supply, both as a weapon to distract
the bad guys, and as eye candy for certain members of the audience to enjoy. Barrymore
looks particularly fetching in a open-necked pit crew uniform.
Yet, there are flaws (besides the extremely thin and simplistic story). Firstly,
Natalie's airheadishness grows more and more annoying as the film progresses.
Secondly, despite the overall quick pace of the film, a big lull in the action occurs
in the middle of the film when it appears the Angels' work is finished and they
begin to attend to their personal lives. Natalie's Soul Train dance number is near
vomit-inducing because of her giggly brainlessness, plus Alex's worrying about her
dimwitted boyfriend Jason accepting her as a strong woman in a dangerous occupation
brings the film to a crashing halt. Thankfully it doesn't last long.
Thirdly, the lack of intelligence in the characters and in the plot is often acute.
There is no soul-searching when they illegally infiltrate Red Star's computer system
and it badly backfires against innocent people - just happy smiles, giggling and
romping on the beach. And what are the Angels' reactions when they risk their lives
to help and eventually save Charlie, a man whom they've never met and who refuses
to see them? Fawning loyalty and devotion. But then, both those things are true
to the original TV series (unfortunately).
The actors and director recognize the cartoonishness of the premise and nicely apply
a light and humourous touch, not taking things too seriously. Barrymore is adorable
as the bad girl Dylan, nicely balancing sweetness and vulnerability in dealing with
Rockwell with a knowing intelligence and a bit of backbone. Glover is exceptional
as the chain-smoking, bad-haired psychopath, never uttering a word, but displaying
style and menace throughout. Liu is fine, and Murray is fine too, but both could
have had more to do. Diaz certainly looks good and jiggles well, but her extreme
airheadedness is too much even for a cartoon and too much at odds with her supposed
electronics and computer skills.
If you require an indepth story and serious plot, you will not be impressed. This
is not that kind of film. Charlie's Angels can provide you an entertaining
and enjoyable flick if you don't think about it too much and just enjoy yourself.
Leave your brain at the door and just go along for the ride.
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