Film Reviews

Charlie's Angels 2

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Bernie Mac
• Details: US / 105 mins / (12PG).

Three years after the first instalment, the trio of crime fighting chicks (Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu) return with a new mission. Someone has stolen state rings, which when brought together, contain the Witness Protection Program's database. The case is a personal one for the Angels as one of their number, Dylan (Barrymore) was given a new identity after she testified against an old boyfriend, Seamus O'Grady (Paul Theroux). Things are further complicated when the vengeful O'Grady is released and goes in search of Dylan. This, of course, allows the Angels to get dressed up in all manner of risque outfits and engage in some serious ass kicking.
The frailty of the plot is all too evident again, but Full Throttle isn't really a movie - more a collection of action sequences undercut by a goofy sense of humour. Eschewing all dramatic pretence in a bid to get to the next bit of action or shot of the girls in a state of partial undress, the director, McG, obviously has little faith in conventional narrative structures. Yet the novelty of these constant winks to the audience dissipates and despite the game efforts of the talented Diaz, Charlie's Angels wears out its welcome long before the credits roll. Indeed, that my overwhelming memory is noting how ridiculously talented Demi Moore's plastic surgeon is, says a lot about what sort of movie Full Throttle actually is.

Review by Garreth Murphy