#REVIEW: “CHARLIE’S ANGELS”

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

Hello Angels, I am a product of the early 90s and loved cheesey Action Flicks and the 2000/2003 Charlie’s Angels films were essentially that. However, with Elizabeth Banks behind the camera and penning, she takes what made Charlie’s Angels great, removing the camp and made it a real bona fide badass Action Flick, with some amazing talent, resulting in a genuinely great world-building Feature.

The Movie centres around Elena (Naomi Scott) who is a Programmer working for Alexander Brock (Sam Claflin), who creates an energy source called Calisto that if placed in the wrong hands,  can be used as a weapon. She tries to warn her boss, who ends up being more concerned with the fact that they need to make shareholders happy, which leads to Elena reaching out to the Angels, Sabina (Kristen Stewart) and Jane (Ella Balinska) to help stop Calisto from falling into the wrong hands. Something goes awry, and the Angels, along with the help of Elena and their own Bosley (Elizabeth Banks) try to stop Calisto from being weaponized.

Charlie’s Angels is great fun that never takes itself too seriously, nor does it make itself the cheesy Action Flick some expect it to be. It has genuinely-hilarious moments, while there are some touching moments, but most importantly it never forgets what it is. It is an Action movie in the style of James Bond and it does that so effortlessly that it seems to have legs to go on to build a Franchise with this Ensemble. Banks’ direction and writing are the key ingredient here  enabling the Cast to shine. Charlie’s Angels brings everything together full circle.

Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and relative newcomer Ella Balinska fire on all cylinders as our Angels. Jaclyn Smith, Cheryl Ladd, Kate Jackson, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu all left their marks as Angels. Stewart, Scott and Balinska pay respect to those who came before them and do an excellent job. Balinska who acts as the pack leader, while Stewart plays the beauty and the comedic relief, while delivering one hell of a punch. Scott plays the brains, learning the ropes of fighting and she knows exactly how to do it. All three of these women excel, share great chemistry and  kick some serious butt.

Charlie’s Angels is amazing and I personally cannot wait to see what they have in store for us next.

Sony Pictures Canada release CHARLIE’S ANGLES in theatres on Friday, November 15, 2019.