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The #1 Movie on Netflix Right Now Took Me Straight Back to ‘Charlie's Angels’

She totally channeled Natalie Cook

Back in Action Cameron Diaz
John Wilson/Netflix

I can still vividly recall watching the 2000 Charlie's Angels film for the first time. I couldn't have been more than 16 years old, and I was so in awe of this badass trio of detectives. I knew each of them had their strengths, but I was mostly drawn to the group's de facto leader, Natalie Cook—played brilliantly by Cameron Diaz. She brought so much playfulness and charm to the role, proving that whip-smart, martial-arts-trained PI's can also be goofy and fun. And now, 25 years later, I can see bits of Natalie in Diaz's latest Netflix film, Back in Action.

In case you've yet to see the action-packed movie, which is now the #1 movie on Netflix's top ten list, it revolves around Matt (Jamie Foxx) and Emily (Diaz), two former CIA spies who've left the world of espionage to create new identities and focus their family. Unfortunately, 15 years later, they're all forced to go on the run when old enemies track them down through a viral video.

This marks Diaz's return to acting for the first time since 2014, but if I didn't know any better, I'd have thought she never left. As much as I do appreciate Foxx's comedic timing, it's Diaz who steals the show.

In the film, Emily is introduced as a seasoned spy who struggles to connect with her rebellious teenage daughter, and her decision to keep her past life a secret only complicates things. Even so, she's funny and high-spirited, especially when it comes to her dynamic with Matt. (Like when they both get caught by their daughter while spying on her with binoculars...in front of the entire school.) Now, I wouldn't go as far as to say that Emily is a carbon copy of Natalie. (You'll never catch her answering the door in her underwear.) But she's a wiser version with solid motherly instincts, and you can tell she's been around the block a few more times.

cameron diaz back in action 1
Parrish Lewis/Netflix

But aside from her overall positive demeanor, there is, of course, her combat skills, which are reminiscent of the gravity-defying stunts I saw from Natalie and her crew in Charlie's Angels. For instance, just 10 minutes into Back in Action, both Matt and Emily are fighting off an entire flight crew from several hundred feet in the air, and when a team of bad guys catches up to them later in the film, they demolish their opponents in a matter of minutes. But perhaps my favorite moment was when Emily went into mama bear mode after finding her daughter at the club.

In all of these action sequences, I couldn't take my eyes off of Diaz, thanks in part to her quick reflexes and how well she worked with her partner. But I was especially drawn to the character's backstory. She's a flawed mom who's still healing from past wounds created by her own mother, all while trying to set a better example for her own kids. That, coupled with Emily's endearing personality and humor just makes her all the more compelling.

Is this the best spy movie I've ever seen? Well, no, but I think Charlie's Angels fans will enjoy seeing little glimpses of Natalie in this high-stakes film.

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nakeisha campbell bio

Associate Editor, News and Entertainment

  • Writes celebrity news, TV/movie reviews and SEO-focused entertainment articles
  • Interviews celebrities and covers red carpet events
  • Has 8+ years of experience covering entertainment topics

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