The Long Plot, Sans Spoilers
Elena (Naomi Scott) helped develop a power tech that's supposed to be the next lightbulb, but the code can be hacked to turn it into an electromagnetic device and can seriously hurt people. When her superiors ignore her warning, she turns to Townsend Company to help her reveal her findings before the device goes to market. While at the meeting, she is attacked and saved by Charlie's Angels. While on the run from an assassin, Elena and the angels find out that the device has been stolen and is about to be sold on the black market. The team travels around the world to retrieve the device as well as figure out who is after them.
The Short, Honest Plot
It's two hours of three young women kicking butt, with Kristen Stewart awkwardly delivering zingers to hilarious effect.
The Actors And Where You Last Saw Them
Kristen Stewart as Sabina Wilson
Kristen Stewart might have been known for her work in The Twilight Saga, but she's been an indie darling for the last decade, starring in award-winning films like Personal Shopper (2016), and Cloud Of Sils Maria (2014). Last year, she starred in indie films JT LeRoy and Lizzie.
Naomi Scott as Elena Houghlin
Naomi Scott previously starred in this year's Aladdin and was in the 2017 Power Rangers reboot. She was also in the 2015 movie The 33 about 33 miners that were trapped underground for 69 days. In her younger years, she was in the short-lived TV show Terra Nova and Love Bites in 2009.
Ella Balinska as Jane Kano
British actress Ella Balinska has had roles in shows like Casualty and Midsomer Murders, as well as a starring role in the show The Athena before being cast as one of the angels in this film!
Elizabeth Banks as Bosley
Elizabeth Banks is known for her comedic roles in films like the Pitch Perfect movies and The Hunger Games, but she also has done a lot of off-screen work, like producing (she's a producer for this film!) and directing (Pitch Perfect 2).
Did You Know?
1. Kristen Stewart and Naomi Scott have both played Disney princesses previously. Kristen was Snow White in Snow White And The Huntsman, while Naomi Scott was Jasmine in the Aladdin live-action version this year.
2. Ella Balinska did most of her own stunts and even studied at the Academy of Performance Combat.
3. This reboot features a lot of guns and action-movie weaponry. In the 2000 version with Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu, the angels didn't use guns at all as requested by Drew.
4. The soundtrack for this film was produced by Ariana Grande herself. The lead single "Don't Call Me Angel" features Ariana, Miley Cyrus, and Lana Del Rey.
5. Make sure to sit through the credits. Not only are there scenes playing while it starts, there's another scene that plays after the credits are over!
What I Think:
It's the age of reboots, and what's more perfect than rebooting a beloved brand with badass females at the core? The 2000 version, the one we grew up with, is a tough act to follow even with its eyebrow-raising depiction of Asian culture and other mildly offensive elements that definitely didn't age well 20 years later. It's the fun female friendship between Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, and Drew Barrymore that still makes people think fondly of the movie, and its 2003 sequel, Full Throttle.
The new angels, relative newcomers Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska team up with bonafide movie star Kristen Stewart for this version and the three of them together make the whole film a fun ride. Kristen, especially, was so much fun to watch as the playful, a little "too-cool-for-school" Sabina that always has a smartass quip to deliver. If it's light adventure and comedy you're hoping for in the reboot, then this one has it in spades.
It's not the sort of big movie that has an overt statement to say unlike films like Captain Marvel, which makes it feel like a bit of a lost opportunity. There are hints of them fighting against sexist stereotypes and microaggression along with beating up bad guys, but they come few and far between. It's really just a low-stakes action movie that wants you to enjoy yourself rather than think about societal issues.
I'd Recommend This To:
Girlfriends looking to watch some fun female friendship on-screen. I also recommend this to anyone who thinks Kristen Stewart still looks and acts like Bella Swan, because she's completely transformed these days.
If you loved the Lucy Liu-Cameron Diaz-Drew Barrymore version, you might want to give this a shot, too. It's not exactly the same film, but it's also fun and a lot less problematic! If you're just looking for a fun film where you can sit back and enjoy your popcorn, you can't go wrong with this Charlie's Angels reboot.