A group of highly trained female special agents, code-named The Doll Squad, embark on a mission to prevent villainous Eamon O'Reilly (Michael Ansara) from unleashing a plague on the world.
Apparently, director Ted V. Mikels sued TV producer Aaron Spelling, claiming that the hit show Charlie's Angels was a rip off of The Doll Squad. I'm inclined to agree with Ted: the basic premise is the same, and Spelling even had the nerve to give one of his Angels the same name as the Doll Squad's leader, Sabrina (played by buxom Francine York). Coincidence? I think not.
Mikels film is a cheap, poorly acted, shoddily directed piece of exploitation with laughable action scenes, but its influence on popular entertainment is undeniable, the film paving the way not only for Charlie's Angels, but any number of movies that feature teams of kick-ass women. Tarantino has said that he's a fan, and I imagine that Mia Wallace's story about Fox Force Five in Pulp Fiction was also inspired by this film.
While the story, performances and plot are basic, to say the least, the enthusiasm of the leading ladies make it a reasonably entertaining affair, and there are plenty of unintentional laughs to be had, from the henchmen who insist on riding on the outside of vehicles to the numerous unconvincing explosions. Unlike Charlie's Angels, The Doll Squad also packs in a reasonable amount of bloody violence, with some juicy blood squibs that wouldn't fly on television.
5/10.
Apparently, director Ted V. Mikels sued TV producer Aaron Spelling, claiming that the hit show Charlie's Angels was a rip off of The Doll Squad. I'm inclined to agree with Ted: the basic premise is the same, and Spelling even had the nerve to give one of his Angels the same name as the Doll Squad's leader, Sabrina (played by buxom Francine York). Coincidence? I think not.
Mikels film is a cheap, poorly acted, shoddily directed piece of exploitation with laughable action scenes, but its influence on popular entertainment is undeniable, the film paving the way not only for Charlie's Angels, but any number of movies that feature teams of kick-ass women. Tarantino has said that he's a fan, and I imagine that Mia Wallace's story about Fox Force Five in Pulp Fiction was also inspired by this film.
While the story, performances and plot are basic, to say the least, the enthusiasm of the leading ladies make it a reasonably entertaining affair, and there are plenty of unintentional laughs to be had, from the henchmen who insist on riding on the outside of vehicles to the numerous unconvincing explosions. Unlike Charlie's Angels, The Doll Squad also packs in a reasonable amount of bloody violence, with some juicy blood squibs that wouldn't fly on television.
5/10.