Charlie's Angels Review
by Ishmael Williams
Why did I go see this one? While I'd seen several episodes, I was
still never fond of the original television show. None of the original
Angels ever "did" anything for me, save Kate Jackson. But I am a fan of
television pop culture, and know that the 70's television series was more
than just a blip on the monitor screen. Had the 70's series looked anything
like this, that blip would have been 10 times as big.
Here are three ladies who have an exuberance for their job. They
work as operatives for a mysterious boss named Charlie, whom they have never
seen. He interacts with the Angels through a squawk box attached to a
telephone, and through this medium introduces clients, gives them
instructions, and generally socializes. His in office persona is a chap
named Bosley, played in this movie by Bill Murray.
And at this point, I'll begin with the disappointment. Bill Murray
plays, simply, Bill Murray. We've seen this portrayal in just about every
film he's done since Ghostbusters. Mildly laconic, certainly cynical and
sarcastic, and slightly whiny, he doesn't really do anything new. Perhaps
this is best for the Bosley character, and for Murray personally, he can
only benefit from the hit that this film is.
The plot is fairly straightforward --- genius millionaire computer
geek is kidnapped, and the Angels are hired to investigate his rival and get
him back. From there the movie twists nicely through a plot, and throws
curves beyond the obvious one handed to us at the beginning of the story.
It is, however, the Angels themselves that are the heart of this
story. Lucy Liu plays the beautiful, serious member of the trio, about the
most down to earth of the three. Her character struggles to balance her
personal life, and her "superhero" career. But when she must, she devotes
herself to the job with an intensity that balances the somewhat more
lighthearted approach of the others.
Cameron Diaz appeared to me to be the youngest of the three, and
clearly both the actress and her character are having fun. Whether kicking
butts or grooving on the Soul Train soundstage, she has a tremendous
exuberance. I enjoyed her portrayal of this character immensely more than
the character portrayed in The Mask, a movie I loved.
But, in my opinion, the true soul of this Angels trio is Drew
Barrymore's character, Dylan. Clearly seeking something in life, and not
finding it quite yet, she still romps through her job (and role) looking to
have the grandest time in life possible, and succeeding. She's obviously
fiercely loyal to her teammates, and her boss, and tremendously good at her
job.
Okay, to say too much more leads me into plot spoilers. So let's
suffice it to say that if you want a rollicking good time, this is the movie
to see.
Tim Wick also wrote a Charlie's Angels review
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Ishmael I. Williams is a fan of both movies and television, and
doesn't get to see as much as he'd like in any given year. Still, what he
does get to see he enjoys writing about, and hope people will stop by from
time to time to see what he has to say. He also thinks he's going to be a
pretty good foil for Tim Wick, fellow board member and with whom he often
disagrees on a film (ask Tim and Ish about Wild Wild West sometime).
You can read about some of his favorite comedies
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