Charlie's Angels (Movie)

“Once upon a time there were 3 little girls who went to the police academy…” Hearing this intro as a kid meant only one thing – time to sit down, shut up, and watch Charlie’s Angels. This series was in my top 3 favourite programmes, alongside The Incredible Hulk and Wonder Woman – in no particular order, because who can choose! Three kickass women fighting bad guys and not a hair out of place was the stuff of dreams for this little girl, so when the series ended in 1981 and I had to live on reruns, I was over the moon when the spin-off movie emerged in 2000. And it did not disappoint.

^{Review Sunday Simmons}

Let me start by saying, nothing beats the original Aaron Spelling series. Kelly (Jaclyn Smith), Jill (Farrah Fawcett), and Sabrina (Kate Jackson) – and later Cheryl Ladd as Kris, were my childhood heroes. John Forsythe’s mysterious ‘Charlie’, David Doyle’s ‘Bosley’; it was sheer perfection. So the movie had a lot to live up to, and it has to be said it did a bloody good job of it. Was I slightly disappointed that the names of my favourite Angels weren’t the same? Yes, but only because child-me had never really cottoned on that Charles Townsend had an ever revolving door of badass beauties just waiting to take over when the others had been retired. Or something like that.

That aside, I loved the casting and can’t find fault with their replacements. Cameron Diaz (Bad Teacher, The Mask, The Holiday) is ditzy but smart Natalie, risk taking tomboy Dylan is perfectly played by Drew Barrymore (50 First Dates, E.T.), and Lucy Liu (Ally McBeal, Kill Bill) is as dangerous as she is beautiful as Alex. Together, they make one hell of a crime fighting trio! There’s been some obvious typecasting, but it doesn’t really matter, because it all works so well for this flashy action comedy. From the onscreen chemistry and camaraderie between the three, it genuinely looks like they were having the time of their lives emulating these 70s action heroines.

Aside from the excellent casting for our Angels, this movie also boasts Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Zombieland) in the Bosley role, and it’s a thrill to hear John Forsythe reprising his voice over as Charlie. Sam Rockwell (Galaxy Quest, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) is brilliant as Eric Knox, bringing just the right amount of sexy but devious. A supporting cast including the inimitable Tim Curry (Clue, Legend), Friends star Matt Le Blanc, and Luke Wilson (Idiocracy), make this action packed 1 hour 38 minutes of girl-power mayhem a most enjoyable watch. A particular highpoint on the shenanigans is the Thin Man, played by the ever eccentric Crispin Glover (Back to the Future, Grendel), who’s as creepy as he is clever as the assassin out to kill our girls.

The plot is almost secondary to the stellar cast, but it’s an exciting premise, nonetheless. When Charlie assigns his Angels to find genius software developer Eric Knox, not all is at it seems. Is it ever? And our trio find their lives – and Charlie’s – at risk. It’s such a slick, humour filled movie, and that’s what makes it easy to watch. It really does have all the elements of a slick 2000 production with a decent helping of 70s cheese to help it along.

On its release, Charlie’s Angels quickly ascended to the No. 1 spot at the box office. It went on to rake in over $264 million worldwide, solidifying the notion that female-led action films could thrive and succeed. The film’s success was a game-changer, showcasing that strong, dynamic women could lead blockbuster hits, paving the way for future films in the genre.