Review of Charlie's Angels (2000) by Ted W — 20 Oct 2017

This film is wildly 1990s hip and very of it's time, which is probably indicatives of how vapid the late 90s were, lacking in a clear identity of it's own, instead relying on retro nostalgia. Sure there was grunge, "Friends," and the Spice Girls, but those were really all just throwback as well and I'm not sure that's much of a cultural identity.

But enough about 1990s being a cultural wasteland when compared to the 60s, 70s, or 80s. As vapid and lightweight of a film as "Charlie's Angels" is, it's also a whole lot of fun. Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu play the super spy/detective angels, with the help of Bosley, a always great Bill Murray, have to foil a plot to steal software or something.

The plot here really doesn't matter because the film is basically a series of barely connected but funny scenes/vignettes consisting of comedy, sexiness, or well done fight sequences (choreographed by Cheung-Yan Yuen, the fight choreographer from my favorite Jet Li movie "Fist of Legend").

The fun does feel forced at times, but it's an extremely likable cast, which include a ton of familiar faces in supporting roles (Sam Rockwell, Tim Curry, LL Cool J, Luke Wilson, Matt LeBlanc, and Tom Green (there's a 90s wasteland figure I'd forgotten about!).

Crispin Glover is the biggest standout of the supporting cast as the deadly mute assassin know as "Thin Man" who dresses like he's stepped off the set of "The Avengers." Overall, "Charlie's Angels" is the epitome of fluff, but it's enjoyable fluff and not all that dissimilar from a 1960s Flint or Matt Helm movie.