DVD Movie Rating for: Charlie's Angels 2, Full Throttle

4 Out of 5 Stars

Movie Plot of: Charlie's Angels 2, Full Throttle

The Angels investigate a series of murders that occur after the theft of a witness protection profile database. Their prime suspects? A "fallen angel" (Demi Moore) who was once their ally and the Creepy Thin Man (Glover)

DVD Production Details of: Charlie's Angels 2, Full Throttle

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu

Director: McG

Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby

Studio: Columbia Tri-Star

DVD Release Date: October 21, 2003
DVD Features:
Exclusive to the unrated DVD:

Unedited material not seen in theaters

Turning Angels into Pussycat Dolls

Rolling with the Punches

XXX-Treme Angels

FULL THROTTLE JUKEBOX

Also on the DVD:

Telestrator commentary with Director McG!

Angel-Vision Trivia Track

Writer's Commentary

Full Throttle: The Cars of Charlie's Angels

Dream Duds: Costuming an Angel

Angels Makeover: Hansen Dam

Designing Angels: The Look of Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

Learn why: There's no such thing as a "short shot," only an overworked producer

Music video: Pink featuring William Orbit "Feel Good Time"

Cameo-graphy

DVD-ROM: Sony's exclusive Charlie's Angels X Online Game

Widescreen anamorphic format

DVD Easter Eggs

Cast of the movie: Charlie's Angels 2, Full Throttle

• Cameron Diaz.... Natalie Cook
• Drew Barrymore .... Dylan Sanders
• Lucy Liu.... Alex Munday
• Demi Moore.... Madison Lee
• Bernie Mac .... Jimmy Bosley
• Justin Theroux .... Seamus O'Grady
• Robert Patrick .... Ray Carter
• Luke Wilson .... Pete Komisky
• Matt LeBlanc .... Jason Gibbons
• Crispin Glover .... The Thin Man
• Cyia Batten .... Pussycat Doll
• Joan M. Blair .... Beach Lady With Sandcastle
• Russell Bobbitt .... Hispanic Doorman
• John Cleese .... Mr. Munday

Photo Gallery of the movie: Charlie's Angels 2, Full Throttle

Reviews of the movie: Charlie's Angels 2, Full Throttle

The original "Charlie's Angels" was a goofy, tongue-in-cheek adventure that pitted critics in two camps: Those who could accept the sweet, fun trio of Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu for who they were and what the movie made them to be, and those who saw an empty, stupid, pointless, constantly-winking-at-itself motion picture that existed for no better reason than to wink.

In round one, I went with the girls.

In round two, I'm leaning toward Charlie's Party Poopers.

Director McG's aptly titled creation, "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" needed less skit and more skirt. McG opted for the skit, realized in endless, one-after-another action setpieces that, in this already drenched-with-CGI climate, are not likely to stand out. There is nothing here to make one rethink the list of the summer's best stunts; nothing up McG's sleeve matches the active virtuosity of "The Matrix Reloaded" or the opener in "X2" or the desert battle in "Hulk." In fact, McG is still employing the stop-the-frame, bullet-time CGI that "The Matrix" has moved past.

There's is an arrogance at work in McG's approach, as well, that echoes, sadly, Michael Bay, a kind of impending pressure that if you don't find this mayhem abosolutely stunning, if you can't appreciate the various shades of red, blue and pink splashed across the screen, than you're a stiff. In the wake of the big, unexpected success of the first film, McG, along with producer Barrymore and everyone else that cheerfully poured their talents into this mess, clearly thought they had stumbled upon a kitschy, T&A version of James Bond or something.

How else to explain the opening sequence, the one you've seen in the trailers, that bears the mark of "this is one of our long line of trademark boffo opening sequences!" How else to explain the plot, an ominous piece of goods about two rings that reveal the identities of every person in the FBi Witness Protection program? And how else to explain the dead-in-the-water return of Demi Moore, who never had much fun in her movies in the first place (I do not recall the woman laughing...ever). The "fun" is the same "fun" from the first movie. The same boyfriends even come back. And Bosley, now played by Bernie Mac, is the same flat, straight man from the first picture.

I have to admit it takes a little effort to refuse bubble gum this sweet. But harmless as the movie may be, it is tedious, and very empty, and it seems to demand that no one acknowledge that it has flaws that can be fairly attributed to "fun" movies. As if to prove that emptiness can never be proverbial, McG keeps cutting and shooting and making his actors mug, all in an effort to prevent and mask over the dead air. But the dead air is still there, underneath, and it's a deadlier kind, because it hints at the sound of fury, signifying just what you think it does.

An ingenious parody of cliches - in full throttle!
Definitely better than its popcorn prequel! It offers more laughs till my pant seams almost burst! Yep, this is the film to see after a dreary, uneventful and moody day of work! Just let your hair hang loose – like Charlie's Angels – and follow them through their unpredictably bizarre and frolicking close-to two hours of silly and outrageous fun. Yep, I'd say ‘unpredictable' as I'm sure none, in the audience, would ever imagine three real-life pretty girls would ever attempt such over-the-top gimmicks. This film is laced with actions, motivations, twists and rollickingly funny acts – exactly as anyone would have expected a ‘Charlie's Angels' film to offer.

What makes this movie works is the combined spirits of Charlie's Dylan, Alex and Natalie. Who says females can't loot out the mafiosi? Who says a female can't be a villainous ringleader? The ‘angels' blast with energy... keeping the spirit of fun from scene to scene. They get blown up, they get shot at, they are caught on fire; they break their ribs! Yep, a bundle of neck-breaking stunts to keep their fans laughing! Oh yes, they pick themselves up and are ready to take on more villains again and again. Call that insane, perhaps, but don't forget: this is basically a fantasy movie for the female dreamers! The creative forces behind this film are astounding. It's impossible not to categorize everything in this film as true to the definitions of ‘extreme' and ‘outlandish.' Even the dialogue is ferociously wicked! Even the Matrix bullet-time choreography is exhibited to whip up laughter. John Woo will likely be disappointed that his martial-arts style is not churning out aesthetic wonderment, but laughter. Very likely, the Make-up artists and Costume Designers must be equally having fun working with these girls. They wonderfully succeed in giving the damsels identities of sorts – in one single film! Watch Cameron Diaz in one of the scenes - I had to look twice to identify her! Indeed, this film is not meant for the serious movie fan!

The ‘Charlie's Angels' fans are in for a treat. Charlie does have one angel returning to the scene. Ooops, or should I have said two? Notoriously funny! He's a riot when it comes to Irish jokes! Crispin Glover's The Thin Man (suspiciously he's more like ‘Willard' here!) is even funnier when he tries to show the audience that he does have a heart! Just watching the facial expressions of John Clease is itself worth the price of a regular tix.

This is one funny film that needs no dumb filthy and crude exposure to tickle the audience with laughter. Just a refreshingly silly and giddy-headed film where every character interweaves in well synchronized takes. It's a movie to take the whole family.