Directed By: McG
Written By: John August Cormac Wibberley &Marianne Wibberley
Based On The TV-Series By: Ivan Goff & Ben Roberts
Story By: John August
Cinematography By: Russell Carpenter
Editor: Wayne Wahrman
Cast: Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, Bernie Mac, Demi Moore, Shia LeBouf, Justin Theroux, Crispin Glover, Robert Patrick, Luke Wilson, Matt LeBlanc, John Cleese, Eric Bogosian, Andrew Wilson, Rodrigo Santoro, Robert Forester, Carrie Fisher, Chris Pontius, Big Boy, Anthony Griffith
The Angels--Natalie, Dylan, and Alex are back again but this time they're preparing for a strike without even warning as they go undercover to retrieve two missing silver bands. These are no ordinary rings. They contain valuable encrypted information that reveal the new identities of every person in the Federal Witness Protection Program. When witnesses start turning up dead, only the Angels, using their expertise as masters of disguise, espionage and martial arts can stop the perpetrator, a mysterious "fallen" Angel. Aided by their trusty colleague, Jimmy Bosley, the Angels' adventure begins at a remote Mongolian outpost and ends only after Dylan is forced to face a dark secret from her past--a secret that puts the lives of her two best friends in danger.
This is pretty much check your brain at the door and enjoy. As this movie is over the top entertainment and more of the same from the first film over bigger and better. Still with no guns as the film wants to be action entertainment and show that can be done without simplicating matters with guns and instead rely on hand to hand as it makes everyone seem tougher and allows for more intricate action sequences. Again one of the main attractions through out the film are the stars sex appeal. Here Cameron Diaz seems to be the one most exploited by this fact.
Bernie Mac appears in the movie as a replacement for Bill Murray's Bosely character. Here they make his Bosely seem more inept and dim. Sure he is supposed to be part of the comedic relief, but he barely comes into help more to bumble and it feels a bit disheartening. Especially when you have a comedic talent such as the late Bernie Mac and he feels misused like a stooge. Especially when he can be whip smart and vicious as a comedian. Here he seems out of place or like a band-aid trying to keep it all together. He also seems chained to the script and not allowed to just improv. So he just seems saddled and more embarrassing. As his character seems unnecessarily picked on and though make attempts at him making a comeuppance. They still seem small and pitiful.
It's not his fault as the whole film seems to have a sense of humor about itself and follows the first films formula though here like most sequels makes everything bigger, but bigger doesn't necessarily mean more entertaining. As here it seems they might have forgotten what worked in the first place so they throw everything they can at the screen to see what sticks. As everything here is bigger and feels more extreme as here are more celebrity cameos, more pop culture references that get to a point that they become so distracting but they are that way on purpose. As the story is very thin and the film needs to keep you in the dark as long as it can before you put the way too easy clues together. So that the film is mostly filler
As the actors go about their jobs you can tell they are having fun and it is kind of Infectous for the audience but can only hold the audience interests for a certain amount of time before we need some kind of substance from the film And the performers. As even though they know certain moments and jokes might not work they keep a smile on their face and proceed as the show must go on.
The pop culture is very much obviously of the time so it works as a time capsule but also dates itself. So that it seems a More current film for when it came out so if not around or don't remember the things that were popular when it came out. You might be lost by the references. Which then will make your interest lessen watching the film.
Though they all get equal billing just as in the first film Cameron Diaz gets most of the film attention as she is more the comedic Dynamo and flexible action hero. Though with the sequel they try to make Drew Barrymore more center stage. Giving her a subplot that more touches upon the team’s crisis.
The film still tries to instill the girls policy of not using guns and keeping the action focused on explosions and hand to hand combat and I can respect the film for gearing itself more towards a female audience and a theme of empowerment and though the girls wear skimpy outfits and use their looks to help Seduce. They are also intelligent and the film relies more on making male characters the eye candy. Plus the film still has plenty of action no matter what.
This film was built as the comeback of Demi Moore even through the advertising made it look like she was around only for a cameo or even a more supporting role. I will admit I was excited after she had been absent from the screen for so long. While watching the film it is undoubtably that she looks great, but as the film goes along with her scenes it also reminds you of how wooden an actress she can be.
By the end the film feels like how a trip to Las Vegas feels it is fun while you are there and the glitter and glam of it is distracting, but while you have fun at a certain point you feel a certain emptiness. As this film had plenty of fun with it's audience but offer nothing to really hold onto.
It's also nice to watch now as you can see actors appearing in this film who are stars now and we're just getting their start in this film. Before they gained a certain notariety and reputation.
The film tries to be wacky and while at times it is certainly offbeat it is also what they once would consider a MTV movie as it seems scattershot and designed not to have too much focus as it seems to jump around and doesn't settle on any angle, camera movement or scene for too long.
One realizes that his film is making fun of it's source and trying to stay true to the fans and spirit of the show. While trying to be entertaining For a new audience. Though while the first film was extravagant itself it also felt centered. When it comes to this film it seems that maybe this one would improve on the original or at least be different this film was just more of the same only harder and less direct. So that whole fun it almost feels grating as it spills overboard it feels like too much.
It also seems to be the last of the films where the soundtrack does more work than sometimes the script as much of the action, montages and scenes seem more to be guided by the soundtrack choices. That with the already rapid state of editing look more like music videos in the middle of the film.
With all the guest stars in this film sure it feels over the top, but it also feels just as ridiculous as the television show. Especially with all the references to modern trends and pop culture at the time.
This is more a movie you can put on during a party or get together as it looks good playing in the background and pretty easy to follow visually. That once in a while you might wonder how the film got to that or why is that there? It also seems like it would make great sleepover party entertainment as it is risqué and raunchy but never rises to the extreme and in a more adolescent way than anything else making it perfect for family entertainment though more watched with kids in their early teens.
Grade: C+
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