Charlie’s Angels
is an okay movie—something you can watch and pretty much enjoy, but it has its
setbacks. The movie isn’t well-paced; there are moments when the action moves
fast and evenly, but other times the pace slows to the point of dullness.
The fast-paced
action and comedic flow are worth noting, though, especially since Elizabeth
Banks is at the helm of this flick. She added enough twists to keep you
guessing, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, it slips away again.
The problem with the twists is that they feel awkward because the reasoning
behind them is pretty weak.
Banks should
still be proud of her Charlie’s Angels. She wrote the screenplay, directed, and
produced the movie through her own production company. She delivered an action
flick with huge explosions, enjoyable fight choreography, and well-timed
comedic moments. The movie’s main challenge, as mentioned earlier, is its
uneven pacing. Other than that, I don’t see why it wasn’t a box-office hit.
Banks’ performance is, as expected, classy and natural. The three leads—Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska—gave performances that were strong enough to warrant another installment. It’s unfortunate that this movie likely won’t get a sequel.
The plot is
familiar, sticking closely to the Charlie’s Angels formula. This movie serves
as a continuation of the previous two theatrical releases and the TV series. We
know Charlie runs the Townsend Agency, a private detective firm, and Charlie’s
Angels are female operatives managed by his lieutenant, Bosley. This movie
dives deeper into the organization, explaining how it’s been running seamlessly
for decades.
In this story,
the agency is after a futuristic device that’s supposed to revolutionize homes.
The problem? The same device can be hacked, weaponized, and turned lethal.
Elena (Naomi Scott), one of the developers, notices this issue and reports it,
only to be ignored.
She’s contacted
by Bosley, who arranges a meeting with her. The meeting is covertly watched by
two of Charlie’s best Angels, Sabina (Kristen Stewart) and Jane (Ella
Balinska). What starts as a secret meeting quickly turns into a massive blowout
with an unexpected casualty.
Banks’ character
steps in to steady the situation, and it becomes clear that something bigger is
happening. The new mission is to pull the devices off the market, stop whoever
put a hit on Elena, and uncover how the meeting’s secrecy was compromised.
As noted
earlier, the movie wasn’t a box-office success, and Banks was vocal about
critics being less receptive to a film with strong female leads. Comparing this
movie to the earlier Charlie’s
Angels (2000) and Full Throttle (2003), the difference is clear. Those
earlier films, starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, and Bill
Murray, leaned heavily into comedy and didn’t take themselves too seriously. In
contrast, Banks’ version is more serious, with comedy taking a back seat—and
for that, I applaud her effort.
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