Charlie’s Angels (2019)

Directed by Elizabeth Banks. Starring Naomi Scott, Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska, Elizabeth Banks, Patrick Stewart, Sam Claflin, Nat Faxon, Djimon Hounsou, Jonathan Tucker, Chris Pang, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Noah Centineo, (voice) Robert Clotworthy. [PG-13]

Unexceptional attempt to reboot the long-dormant Charlie’s Angels film franchise drops the earlier trio of Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu (though all three make appearances in photographs) and suggests that the private investigator agency has scores of Angels—and even several Bosleys—like it’s a global crime-fighting unit. As in the TV show and previous movies, the story focuses on three such Angels (technically, two, plus one that’s “in training”); their case involves the threat of a high-tech Macguffin with lethal potential in the wrong hands, but even though there’s slightly more plot than the last couple outings, it’s still just a flimsy excuse for silly action, forgettable quips, and girl power. Avoids inane embarrassment, but too formulaic and inconsequential to rate as anything better than a middling diversion. Scott, Stewart, and Balinska have a few decent moments together and individually, but not enough to warrant sitting through a listlessly paced mystery caper with lame late twists and weak supporting characters, including a mostly silent assassin (Tucker) that just comes off as a tepid retread of the weirdo that Crispin Glover previously played. Has several cameos, most of which occur during mid-credits scenes.

45/100