Campy, earnest, and (at times) funny, She Spies: The Complete First
Season is more VIP and Charlie's Angels (with a little
classic Batman thrown in) than Alias or La Femme Nikita.
Showcasing the considerable physical charms of Natasha Henstridge, Kristen
Miller, and Natashia Williams, who portray recovering criminals turned
sexy she-spies Cassie, D.D., and Shane, respectively, the whodunit series
offers a tongue-in-cheek alternative to hardcore crime-solving shows.
She Spies debuted on NBC in 2002. After three episodes, the series
went into syndication and did well enough to nab a second full season.
But whether they're waxing euphoric about the current state of affairs
or the improbable plausibility of their own show, the women exhibit pluck
and fairly decent comedic timing. Henstridge, best known for her femme
fatale roles, is surprisingly funny, especially when mocking her own sex-symbol
image.
Plot isn't a huge deal in any of the 20 episodes included on this four-disc
set. In the pilot episode, for instance, no one questions why a talk show
hosted by a former politician is run by his campaign manager rather than
a professional television producer. The plotline is only slightly more
integral when it can get one of the spies into lingerie or other skimpy
clothing. Never mind that not one of the three spies looks like she could
effectively execute a roundhouse kick to the enemy. The fact is, they all
look fabulous nabbing the bad guys without breaking a nail or into a nasty
sweat. And sometimes, that's what it's really about. --Jae-Ha Kim |
photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment |