41 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Once Upon a Time, there were 3 Little Girls..., November 10, 2000
As much a tribute to pop culture as a big-screen version of the '70s
series, 'Charlie's Angels' has so much energy and tongue-in-cheek
charm that it DARES you NOT to root for its three young stars! And
while the film won't erase the images of Farrah Fawcett in a thin
tanktop on a very cold day, there is a wholesome sexiness and
accessiblity in Barrymore, Diaz, and Liu that none of the various
teamings of TV 'Angels' ever achieved!
The pre-title sequence is
outrageous, and fabulous! ...
Each Angel has a unique
backstory...Natalie (Diaz) is an ditzy, upbeat 'Soul Train'-dancing
wannabe who 'shakes her booty' at home in Spider-Man undies, looks for
'Mr. Right', and is a crack driver; Alex (Liu) is a 'leg waxer'/extra
on an action movie set, who is a lousy cook, sleeps with the film's
star (Matt LeBlanc, in a funny cameo), and is an expert in technology
and martial arts; Dylan (Barrymore) is an ex-high school 'bad
girl'/free spirit involved with a seedy, insecure hippie living in a
tugboat (humorously portrayed by Tom Green, Barrymore's real-life
boyfriend), is a master of disguise, and leads the trio.
As in the
TV series, the Angels work out of the Townsend Detective Agency (still
located in the famous colonial brick building), and communicate with
the never-seen Charlie (voiced, as always, by John Forsythe) via the
telephone. As the trio's liason, Bosley, Bill Murray is simply
perfect, hilarious in his patented 'smarmy but lovable' persona!
The plot revolves around the kidnapping of a Bill Gates-type
computer genius (Sam Rockwell, 'The Green Mile'), and a technology
that can pinpoint any person's location, anywhere in the world. The
prime suspects are competitor Roger Corwin (Tim Curry, in a
delightfully wicked turn!), and his hitman, portrayed with kinky
relish by Crispin Glover. Hired by Kelly Lynch (who has a ball in the
role of Rockwell's partner!), the Angels embark on a case with all the
twists, betrayals, action, humor, and mayhem that a fan could ask for!
Loud, good-natured, and pulsating with a soundtrack of '70s-'80s
Top Ten songs, the film combines 'Matrix'-style freeze-frames and
slow-motion FX with a ton of Pop Culture references and a
swashbuckling sense of derring-do! The film literally rocks, and never
lets up!
Is this 'Great Cinema'? Certainly not! But in its sheer
audacity, and sense of fun, no recent film can match it! And while the
original series teased with a visual sex appeal that was was largely
ignored in the storylines, the big-screen version has a 'if you got
it, flaunt it' attitude that is both refreshing and empowering! This
is a 'Girl Power' movie, in the BEST sense of the word!
I HIGHLY
recommend it!
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
GOOD FUN, November 23, 2000
Drew Barrymore, Lucy Lu and especially Cameron Diaz are terrifically entertaining as the newest Angels in this amusing, well-made big-screen take on the classic TV series. Though Bill Murray has little chance to use his comic gifts, mostly everything else about this high-octane caper is entertaining and self-consciously bigger-than-life. The Angels are each given a human side, from the get-go -- this is a clever throughline, making these women memorable and distinct. They seem to be having a ball together, and showing off some impressive, athletic kung-fu kicks, twsits and turns. There is an air of self-deprecation (Diaz dancing; Lucy cooking; Drew's boyfriend) that adds a sweet, funny undercurrent to the Matrix-like action sequences, which show plenty of skin and outfits. The sexiness comes across a both a weapon and as a celebration. The movie seems to bear the overall stamp of Drew Barrymore's professional persona: generous with its cast, fun-loving, empowered and distinctly feminine. It's a surprisingly good time for all.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not a great movie, but absolutely great fun, November 7, 2000
My wife (who doesn't remember the original show) and I went into the movie with zero expectations and found ourselves having an absolute ball. The film is funny, self-aware and great fun. Any film that includes the line "for god's sake, FLIP YOUR HAIR!" isn't one that takes itself too seriously, even for a moment.
Add to that teriffic Hong Kong action-movie sequences -- See Cameron Diaz question a thug with her foot! See the Angels take on a sword-cane wielding and high-flipping Crispin Glover! -- and the film got a well-deserved round of applause from a packed theater in very jaded Los Angeles.
This isn't the film for those who prefer their action grim or their female heroines desexualized -- the Angels go from kicking the crap out of bad guys to checking out hot guys in zero-to-60 flat -- but for those looking for some light movie fare served at rocket speed, "Charlie's Angels" is the way to go.
The Angels out-Bond every James Bond movie without Sean Connery, and as we left the theater, my wife and I agreed that we would be getting the DVD ...
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