Elena Houghlin discovers that an energy conservation device that she helped invent, 'Calisto', has the potential to trigger fatal seizures when used. She tries to raise this with her head of development, but he proves determined to cover up the issue.
Elena turns to the secretive Townsend Agency for aid in exposing the truth and preventing the dangerous device from going into use across the world. The Agency sends its 'Angels' Sabina and Jane to make contact with Elena, but the meet is interrupted by a deadly assassin.
It seems that someone is determined to keep Elena's story a secret, and as their efforts to regain Calisto continue to be thwarted, Elena, Sabiona and Jane come to suspect that someone with the Townsend Agency itself is working against them.
This third big screen adaptation of the Charlie's Angels TV series was not a success at the box office, and its release attracted a lot of histrionic whining from men who had their feelings hurt by the film's subtle and not so subtle pokes at male privilege. Personally though, I thought this was good fun.
This third big screen adaptation of the Charlie's Angels TV series was not a success at the box office, and its release attracted a lot of histrionic whining from men who had their feelings hurt by the film's subtle and not so subtle pokes at male privilege. Personally though, I thought this was good fun.
The cast are all solid, delivering the film's constant stream of banter in a natural and entertaining style. Kristen Stewart in particular, in the role of Sabina, demonstrates excellent comic timing.
The film offers good action set pieces, too. There's a good variety of types of action; fist fights, gun fights, car chases and foot races; in a broad variety of locations, and the narrative purpose of each scene is clearly defined. This scene is about saving Elena from the assassin; this scene is about trying to recover the Calisto prototype; and so on.
With the exception of camera's tendency to ogle Kristen Stewart's bottom, this movie feels more truly feminist than the earlier iterations. Let's not forget the original got a lot of mileage out of 'attractive women get tied up'. I have a strong suspicion that this cost it with critics and male audiences.
The film offers good action set pieces, too. There's a good variety of types of action; fist fights, gun fights, car chases and foot races; in a broad variety of locations, and the narrative purpose of each scene is clearly defined. This scene is about saving Elena from the assassin; this scene is about trying to recover the Calisto prototype; and so on.
With the exception of camera's tendency to ogle Kristen Stewart's bottom, this movie feels more truly feminist than the earlier iterations. Let's not forget the original got a lot of mileage out of 'attractive women get tied up'. I have a strong suspicion that this cost it with critics and male audiences.
If the film has a weakness, it is that it perhaps puts a bit too much focus organisation the Angels work for, and assumed knowledge about the Townsend Agency. I think when you're re-starting the franchise after a long break, as this was trying to do, it might be better to go with a more stand-alone storyline.
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