Intertextuality in Charlie’s Angels:

In order to understand the dynamics of Charlie’s Angels, audiences need to be familiar with some of the conventions from the detective genre. It is assumed in the film that the audience are familiar with the idea of ‘undercover agents’ and indeed are expecting the see the central characters in different disguises in order to gain access to information. It is also assumed that audiences anticipate the use of high tech gadgetry by the central characters (a tradition that harks back to James Bond). It is interesting to note that both the undercover costumes and gadgetry are used to make the job of a spy look exciting and appealing. In addition to these features Charlie’s Angels also uses the conventions of the car chase sequence and the detonation of a bomb at the end – both of which interestingly appeared in the Charlie’s Angels television series.

This leads us to ask what an action genre is and what are the expectations in terms of schematic devices, setting, characterisation and plot? In what ways does this conform and what are the deliberate alterations to the archetypal action film?

Finally, Charlie’s Angels makes direct reference to other blockbuster films; there are the Matrix inspired kung-fu fighting scenes and even a scene in which one of Charlie’s Angels is wearing a Harry Potter costume. A ploy that is both cheekily post-modern and also appeals to different ‘cult’ groups within a wide audience.

http://wwwfp.education.tas.gov.au/English/word/Blockbusters.doc