“Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” (Columbia Pictures)
What saves “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” from sequel oblivion is the fact that the entire cast seems to be having fun making the movie. Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu are back to recreate their roles of Dylan, Natalie and Alex and they pick up right where the last movie left off.
This time out the angels are trying to find two titanium rings which when placed together reveal information about persons in the “witness protection program.” A bunch of bad guys and one bad gal want this information so they can start eliminating these people.
The plot is almost painfully bad and only comes together in bits and pieces. The length of the movie is filled up with comic bits which mostly do work, some musical numbers which are fun, a lot of slow-mo fighting which gets tiring, and women in bikinis who do look good.
Cameron Diaz is the best actress in the group; Lucy Liu looks the best; and poor Drew Barrymore seems the most lackluster. Bernie Mac is on hand as Bosley. He replaces Bill Murray, the first film’s Bosley. Mac makes a valiant effort but Murray is missed.
Demi Moore is on screen again as Madison Lee, an ex-angel. She looks terrific but the role isn’t anything special. Looking even better is original angel Jaclyn Smith who has a too brief cameo as Dylan’s angel mentor.
Matt LeBlanc is back as Alex’s boyfriend while Luke Wilson reprises his role as Natalie’s lover. Both men have little to do and could just as easily have been left out of the film. A running gag about Natalie’s fear of commitment is silly and doesn’t work.
The movie is rated PG-13 for violence and profanity.
Anyone who just wants to see beautiful women in brief outfits will think this film is a masterpiece. Those who want a semblance of a plot, some good acting, and more than a few laughs will walk out disappointed. This sequel may be moving at “full throttle” but it ends up making the whole thing a blur. A pretty blur but a blur just the same.
I scored “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” a skipping 5 out of 10.
