CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE (2003) **

Reviewed 6/27/03

In the spirit of the first movie, FULL THROTTLE revs up the pop culture references, 80s music, star cameos, and preposterous action.  Not that the plot matters a whit, this time the Angels try to recover two stolen rings that reveal those hidden in the witness protection program.  In an attempt at career resuscitation, Demi Moore plays the Angel-gone-bad culprit, and Justin Theroux as a Max Cady-like Irish gangster, joins Crispin Glover in the grotesque weirdo department.  Once again all the postmodern self-consciousness acts as a veneer to excuse all the vulgar stereotyping, the clichéd character arcs, and the film’s general embrace of stupidity.  Director McG doesn’t quite have a handle on its tone with the inclusion of much excessive violence (one character gets skewered through the chest with a sword, another with glass shrapnel), and while it's ostensibly about female empowerment, it is just as much about female degradation (though men get it just as much).  Bernie Mac as the new Bosley and John Cleese as Lucy Liu's father are wasted, and this film once again brings up the question, just how does Matt LeBlanc get work?  It’s not without moments of amusement and silly fun, especially from Cameron Diaz, but ultimately it just pummels your brain into submission.