Charlie’s Angels opens this weekend and director Elizabeth Banks and stars Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska were in Hollywood last night for the premiere. At post time reviews for the film have not yet been released which, normally, is not a good sign. At the same time, I’m not sure this is a movie for critics. There are movies that I love that critics have slaughtered. The critics were not hot on Charlie’s Angels 2000 and I’ve seen that movie, and the follow-up, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, at least 50 times if not more. You know what made those movies work? Even if they didn’t work for the critics? It was the chemistry between Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu. It was that they clearly were having so much fun together, it didn’t f-cking matter that the critics weren’t into the story or whatever it is they complained about. If Elizabeth, Kristen, Naomi, and Ella can nail that, along with the outfits – which includes costume disguises etc – and the silliness, then chances are there will be a disconnect between what the audience thinks and the critics, the way there was a disconnect back in 2000 and 2003.
If Kristen Stewart is any indication, the way she’s been on this press tour, there is cause for optimism. She is the “senior” here, for a change. We’re used to seeing Kristen as one of the younger members of an ensemble. Here, among the angels, she’s the veteran. She’s the big sister. In the decade since Twilight, she’s figured out her relationship to fame and how she navigates the spotlight. It’s not like she’s never been the point person on promotion before – she is an A List star after all – but over the last few years, we’ve seen her come into her leadership. She, along with Elizabeth Banks, given her profile, is the leader on this project. And she seems comfortable with it, as part of the team and with the added responsibility of shouldering the biggest spotlight. I love her in this role. I love that she and her costars look like they’re enjoying the process, that they know exactly what kind of movie they’ve made and who they’re making it for: women.
Here’s my favourite tweet about Charlie’s Angels after the screening last night:
Went to a pre-screening of Charlie's Angels and the majority of the audience were gays thirsting after Kristen Stewart 10/10 would recommend
— Miranda (@m_tols) November 11, 2019
I’m not gay but I have a feeling I’ll be thirsting after Kristen Stewart too. I was thirsting after seeing shots of her at the American Cinematheque gala the other night honouring Charlize Theron in a morning suit with the shirt unbuttoned past the navel and sneakers and glasses, and all I can say to this tweet is… same:
I saw Charlie's Angels tonight and my sexuality is like 97% straight but wowwwwww Kristen Stewart in this movie reeeeally nails that other 3
— Brittany Berger 🦄 (@thatbberg) November 12, 2019