D.E.B.S. (Movie Review)

D.E.B.S. is an action comedy. But it is more of a parody on the action comedy it is trying to be. Actually, it is just plain fun.

I first became familiar with this group of “crime-fighting hotties with killer bodies” in director Angela Robinson’s 2003 short film with the same title (funded by POWER-UP, a professional organization for lesbians in the entertainment, arts, and media fields). The premise of the feature film as well as the short film is about a group of high school graduates recruited as top secret agents chosen by the government based on their scores on a secret test embedded within the S.A.T. that measures the ability to cheat, lie, and kill. But mostly it is for their ability to lie. If all those spy movies have taught one thing, it is that the best spy is capable of lying with the utmost sincerity.

That this feature is an action comedy parody on secret agents and teen comedies is nothing new. There are already several franchises in Hollywood that cover both separately. And they do it with big budgets, mind-blowing special effects, and top name billing that guarantees the number one spot for its opening weekend. Already, that is three strikes against D.E.B.S.

What is refreshing about this one, though, is in its departure from the other standard secret agent movies in that the love interest for the lead female character is another female (gasp!). The theme plays out wonderfully without being too self conscious about it. Though, it does not miss the point at self-parody, especially through the reactions of the character of Janet (Ritchie) to Amy.

The movie centers on Amy (Sara Foster), who has recently broken up with her boyfriend Booby (Geoff Stults of T.V.’s 7th heaven) because she simply is not in love with him. Things turn ugly when the ever elusive villain, Lucy Diamond (Jordana Brewster, has a run-in with the D.E.B.S. and is smitten by Amy. Lucy is now obsessed with seeing her, and so, a forbidden romance blossoms. But Amy is bound by the honorable code of the D.E.B.S. Not being one to take no for an answer, Lucy concocts a plan to “kidnap” Amy. The rest of the film finds the remaining crime-spies (Meagan Good, Jill Ritchie, and Devon Aoki) trying to get her back safely.

For all the freshness of its theme in this genre, it also proves to be its major drawback. The tongue in cheek dialogue moves the action along swiftly. It is at the establishing of the blossoming relationship between Foster and Brewster that the dialogue comes to a complete halt. It almost borders on cliché.

But its not enough to stop anyone from enjoying the rest of the film. It does pick up again towards the end and the result is a complete joy to watch. It almost seems a shame to have it end the way it does, because it leaves you wanting more. Who knows, there may be a franchise here all along—geared towards a specific audience. I think its time.

D.E.B.S. opens March 25 (Select Cities)
PG-13 for sexual content and language.
Distributed by Screen Gems
Starring: Jordana Brewster, Meagan Goode, Devon Aoki, Jill Ritchie, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Holland Taylor.
Directed by: Angela Robinson