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CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE (PG-13)

Plot Summary: The ultimate female super-sleuths are in action again, this time saving the American government’s Witness Protection Program and fighting against one of their own

Reason for the Rating: action violence, sensuality and language/innuendo.

Sometimes a movie’s quality is all about expectations. You know what I’m talking about. Everybody’s experienced the letdown of finally seeing the movie the world can’t stop praising and sadly leaving the theater not feeling improved or enlightened. Sigh. Then there’s the movie you indifferently agree to watch and leave amazed at how surprisingly GOOD it was--probably better since you were pleasantly surprised. (Of course, then you go talk it up so much that it turns into that first kind of movie, and your close friends are sorely disappointed....but I digress...) I could go on relating different scenarios that prove how much our expectations affect a movie, but I’ll leave that up to the imagination and get to the point: CHARLIE'S ANGELS FULL THROTTLE is indeed all about expectations.

If you’re looking for a movie that is exactly what the previews promise--beautiful women solving impossible crimes, tons of action, and a minimal plot--then you’ll love this movie. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more deep or even a little meaningful, you'd better search elsewhere. This movie will get your adrenaline a-pumpin’, but it won’t get your brain a-thinkin’.

In this high-impact sequel to the first CHARLIE'S ANGELS film, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, and Cameron Diaz are back, once again kicking some bad-guy butt with the help of a new Bosley (Bernie Mac). The Angels are employed by the government to retrieve its list of protected witnesses before it is sold to the world’s most powerful crime families. Eventually, they discover they are fighting against a formidable foe: a fallen Angel, played with devilish style by Demi Moore. As the movie zooms forward, more information is tossed out, more villains are introduced, and the Angels have more opportunities to change outfits. It’s about that deep.

Overall, though, the action and humor of CHARLIE'S ANGELS FULL THROTTLE does make a fun summer movie. But it makes only flimsy attempts at a plot, so only watch it if you’re looking for lots of action, girl-power, and cool cars. Parents should also note that the film features women objectified as sex objects, violence, some profanity, and sexuality (including a scene of the Angels dancing suggestively in skimpy outfits). That means the PG-13 rating probably is a little off, depending on the maturity level of your young teenager.

It’s difficult to recommend FULL THROTTLE wholeheartedly one way or the other. It’s safe to say that if you saw the first CHARLIE'S ANGELS movie, your opinion of it will probably be similar for this sequel. However, your ultimate enjoyment of CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE is really going to depend upon your expectations going in.

FamilyFans.com Recommends: If you're looking for just a fun, mindless action flick, CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE could fit the bill. If you're looking for depth in storytelling or something wholesome for the whole family, you'll probably want to avoid this one.

After the Show…If members of your family choose to view this movie, use these questions to spark discussion about it afterward:

---In what ways are Charlie's Angels positive role models? In what ways are they negative examples?

---Being able to work effectively as a team is extremely important in this movie. Do you think that's true in real life as well? Why or why not?

---One doesn't have to be a butt-kicking beauty to be an "angel" in God's eyes. What do you think God looks for in his human "angels"?

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