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The
film is full of tongue-in-cheek humor
that satirizes teen films and action films at the same time. The
first half of the film is especially sharp, provoking one laugh
after another at everything from the over-the-top impracticality
of the D.E.B.S. uniforms, to arguments between the D.E.B.S. about
whether Janet got her sweater at Target, to one-liners like Max
asking Amy seriously "Do you remember the first thing I said
to you when we met?" and Amy responding equally seriously,
"That's my bunk, bitch?"
The
film could be improved in the second half by adding more of these
moments during some of the long, predictable stretches that seem
to be more about moving the plot forward than satirizing it. This
is partly a devil of Robinson's own making: there are so many laugh-out-loud
funny moments in the film that you notice when it's more action
than comedy.
The
character of Amy could use a little more definition, as well. Robinson
has stated that she created Lucy and Amy to be very complementary
characters, two halves of a whole, but Amy often comes across a
little, well, bland, especially in comparison to the dynamic Lucy--although
perhaps that's intentional, since Amy is supposed to be the All-American
Girl type.
Fortunately,
the film seems to pick up steam again at the end, lacing a semi-predictable
ending with enough funny moments to make it seem fresh.
There
is little else to criticize about this film, however: the
editing is smooth, the production quality good, the costumes excellent,
the script well-written, and the action scenes and special effects
convincing (you'd never know this film was made in less than a year
on a budget of $3.5 million, which in itself is an achievement).
The
acting is solid overall, and all of the characters bring something
unique to the story. Max, Janet, and especially
Dominique serve primarily to support the Lucy-Amy storyline, but
they are interesting enough characters that you can't help hoping
for a sequel to see more of them.
The
real star of the film, however, is Jordana Brewster, who is going
to get a lot of attention when this film hits theaters. Brewster
is perfect as Lucy: confident and a little edgy, but with a hint
of vulnerability and a magnetic appeal that makes Amy's attraction
to her easy to understand. The chemistry between Lucy and Amy is
very good, partly because Robinson wisely doesn't rush their courtship,
and the easy banter between Lucy and Scud is very funny and adds
a nice dimension to Lucy.
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