P.C. Shannon

In the July 11, 2003 issue of Entertainment Weekly, Owen Gleiberman combines his two prior reviews of Legally Blonde 2 and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle with a short introduction that names Chrissy of Three’s Company as the “patron saint” of the protagonists of the two films. His point is that Elle Woods and the “Angels” have “a woman’s right to revel in the sheer fun of being a chicklet” as well as the right to a successful career. Elle Woods is a Harvard-educated lawyer while the action sequences of Charlie’s Angels are “mini spectacles of ‘masculine’ style converted into pure feminine force.” The precedent then is that today’s young women can be girlie and accomplished.

I’m personally not too sure how I feel about this. Perhaps I’m not “post-feminist” (whatever that may mean). In real life, I would have a problem — at least initially — taking Elle Woods seriously. I would certainly be attracted to her, and after learning of her credentials and seeing her in action, I would be sold. In many ways, she is my ideal woman: very feminine and attractive, yet intelligent and accomplished. My girlfriend certainly fits this mold. I could just be intimidated by such a set of personal attributes, since I feel only slightly above avaerage (at best) in most respects. Or I could be overwhelmed by the possibility of having my cake and eating it too.

Whatever the case may be, Legally Blonde 2 and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle set a precedent for womanhood that is both strong and feminine. I like it because I think that’s what a woman should be.