Charlie's Angels (ABC, Thursdays 8/7 Central)

Charlie’s Angels

ABC, Thursdays 8/7 Central

Sep 22, 2011 By Lily Moayeri Web Exclusive

Angels Version 2.0 have finally discovered bras—at least most of the time. The remake of the '70s Aaron Spelling smash hit has less jiggle and more bad girls gone good. This time, the Angels are Abby (Rachel Taylor), a socialite turned thief; Kate (Annie Ilonzeh), a corrupt detective; and Eve (Minka Kelly), whose rap sheet is endless and includes grand theft auto and manslaughter. Bosley (Ramon Rodriguez) is presented in this version of the series as a young and fit tech wiz who calls James Bond to mind with his use and abuse of numerous ladies.

Within minutes of the show's start, the original third Angel, Gloria, is blown up. The rest of the episode is devoted to unraveling her endless layered past as a decorated and disgraced Marine and uncovering why she exploded. This is where Eve comes in: as Gloria's best friend. The fact that these Angels have questionable histories gives them an edge the originals never have had. This edginess is set in Miami, tempered by glamorous settings and high fashion, manifesting mainly in figure-revealing clothing. Come on, you didn't expect anything more, did you?

What is hugely unrealistic is that these model-like creatures can beat up guys who are at least twice their body weight. The portrayal of Taylor's Abby is also problematic, dropping to an exceptional low after Gloria gets blown up with a transparent display of cringe-inducing fake emotions. Rodriguez' Bosley isn't much better, as he seems uncomfortable with his role as a player rather than exhibiting the requisite confidence.

This leaves the bulk of the show to be carried by Kelly and Ilonzeh. Kelly's Eve is reminiscent of Jennifer Garner's Sydney Bristow in Alias: remarkably resilient and believably tough, she somehow manages to maintain her sex kitten factor. Ilonzeh's Kate is the most natural in her Angel role, dedicated to having fun as much as she's dedicated to getting the bad guys. This second go-around isn't going to break any television barriers, but it sure is fun watching these lovely ladies give us a fashion show for 45 minutes or so. (www.abc.com/shows/charlies-angels)

Author rating: 5/10

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