Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

An award-winning writer I know recently confided to me (which is why I decline to name him here) he will no longer teach writing workshops of any manner or form. The explanation for this is blunt: There is no reason for him to do so, owing to the increasing lack of bona fide writing talent.

This, he said. Is demonstrated by the growing absence of creativity and originality by those who would be writers.

Now I must provide something of a disclaimer before I continue this notion: This particular writer is known to be something of a crank and considers loud complaining a legitimate hobby.

Here's the thing: Despite his reputation I find his explanation for his retirement from this particular effort to be true. It is a truth I know first-hand:

Less than a week ago--as I write this--I did a workshop and found therein a horror--A HORROR--of the worst kind: Talent, originality, and creativity within the Hollywood Machine, as embodied by the humble scribe, are all but dead and gone: The buzzards and other death-eaters are circling because they can smell the distinct stench of this specific carrion on the hot dry wind wheezed from the aged lungs of the Hollywood Machine.

As proof of this serious, albeit outrageous, charge I offer "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle".

Here is a movie (and I use that term very loosely) so void of talent, creativity, and originality that a half-dead moviegoer could, upon experiencing such things within the context of this flick, bellow: "WHAT'S THAT DOING IN THIS MOVIE?" A bellow, interestingly enough, followed by an stiff quiet, and a muttering, "Oh. Right."

Now here's the thing with regards to all of this: Despite these glaring flaws I know--I KNOW--this flick will make money at the box office. Which leads me to a horrible, terrible, gawdawful conclusion: Is the opinion of the writer I know, is the truth I know first-hand--are they absolute? Is there to be no exception to this particular reality?

The mere thought must make your skin crawl and cause your sensibilities to gag and choke.

But let's step away from the apparent and pose a hypothetical: Let's say for a moment "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" is the reality of film- and movie-making now and forever. Let's say for a moment this flick is--can you bear this?--the benchmark, the standard by which all other cinema is measured in terms of quality and sheer entertainment value. This movie is what all other films and movie aspire to.

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