Charlie's Angels

It's a magical place where three lovely little ladies with remarkable superpowers fend off evil-doers who are hell bent on taking over the world. No, I'm not talking about "The Powerpuff Girls." I'm talking about "Charlie's Angels," the long-in-the-making Hollywood blockbuster that fits the bill as a feisty, frantic, and fantastic good time at the movies. Oh, and the women are pretty hot too!

Natalie (Cameron Diaz), Dylan (Drew Barrymore), and Alex (Lucy Liu) are beautiful private investigators who work for a reclusive millionaire named Charlie. Their latest mission, should they decide to accept it (oh wait--wrong movie!), is to find Eric Knox (Sam Rockwell), a technology genius who has been kidnapped. They suspect the culprit to be Roger Corwin (Tim Curry), a high-profile communications executive who would kill for Knox's latest invention--an innovative voice identification system that would give him even more power than he already has. The girls go undercover to find their man, but in the process, they uncover a plot that threatens to destroy the very person who's been taking care of them for all these years. Will they save the day? Go, girls, go!

Between the animated direction, the flashy MTV style, and one groovy soundtrack, "Charlie's Angels" feels more like a live-action version of "The Powerpuff Girls" than an update of the classic TV series. Former commercial and music video director McG (real name: Joseph McGinty Nichol) makes an impressive feature film debut by mixing the retro feel of that 70's show with James Bond-style action, "Matrix"-style special effects, and a healthy dose of girl power. He also plays right into the camp factor by realizing that there isn't a guy on the planet who isn't dying to see some flesh from these bodaceous babes, and he milks his PG-13 rating for all it's worth.

If anything, "Charlie's Angels" has more in common with last summer's "Mission: Impossible 2" (or "M:i-2," or whatever it's called), than it does with the TV show that inspired it. In addition to having remarkably similar opening sequences, the two films also have somewhat convoluted plots. But where "M:i-2" took itself too seriously (though you'd never know it, judging by some of the unintentional laughter that it generated), "Charlie's Angels" has one helluva sense of humor. It's not afraid to laugh at itself, and it's hard to not be won over by the incredible chemistry that the three actresses have with each other.

The film may be called "Charlie's Angels," but it's Cameron Diaz's movie. While they all seem to be having a ball, Diaz centers the film with a confident demeanor and ineffable charm that literally carries the film. She also perfects the comic timing that worked so well for her in films like "My Best Friend's Wedding" and "There's Something About Mary."

Drew Barrymore would hardly have been my first choice to play an angel, but since she co-produced the film, she can do whatever she wants. Fortunately, she rises to the occasion and mixes her vibrancy, sexuality, and remarkable agility (she beats up 5 guys with both hands tied behind her back) into one instantly appealing role. Lucy Liu rounds out the cast, going one step further from the sexual vamp she's played in, well, just about everything she's ever done (and for the record, I give her one more season on TV's "Ally McBeal" before she bolts).

Where the main stars are given plenty to do, the same cannot be said about the supporting players. Bill Murray, who was seen as an ideal choice to play Bosley, gives a less-than-stellar performance. His heart is obviously not in the role (understandable, if the rumors of an on-the-set spat between him and co-star Lucy Liu are true), and he just seems to be walking through the movie.

"Charlie's Angels" isn't all rock 'em sock 'em action. There's an amusing bit where the angels try to maintain some semblance of a normal love life. Diaz meets her match with the lovestruck Luke Wilson, Barrymore is courted by the wacky Tom Green (her real-life fiance), and Liu tries to cook up a storm for her actor-boyfriend Matt LeBlanc (who, as fate would have it, also plays an actor on TV's "Friends").

The summer may have been a bummer, but thanks to "Charlie's Angels," the fall is already a ball. Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu are women for the new Millennium--they're confident, they're sexy, they're strong, and this is one movie that proves that chicks truly do kick ass.

And so once again, the day is saved! Thanks to "Charlie's Angels!"