Avenging Angel

Here's a more racier, livelier product, than the well intentioned, melodramatic, dull, tamed vehicle that preceded it. Four years on, Angel has a new life, champion runner/lawyer. The murdered cop who saved her in the first one, is the catalyst which drives her back to LA, to track down, and kill the nasty culprits, a mob organization, greedy land developing SOB'S, who are taking down Hollywood Boulevard with whole new plans, set for the streets. We are reunited with some old characters and new ones, including a key witness, and glitter man, who aids Angel and her avenging team to hunt down these cruel people who like to play rough, not just on the streets You never get bored in this, and AA, is an unintentional slick pic in the Angel series, and the movie has pump and testosterone flowing through it, the legendary Calhoun proving he is a real saviour and cowboy in the finale, and I was glad, he stayed aboard for this one, as I was with Tyrell's foul mouthed Solly. Slick B grade camp, as bright as the lit up neon of the city streets. A lot of funny, with some roll eye moments too, doesn't hurt here.

At the beginning there is some promise to this sequel - there's a little zip, some decent exploitation, and it seems there will be more of an actual plot this time. Alas, as soon as Angel swears vengeance and hits the streets again, all the positive stuff generated up to that point is quickly flushed down the toilet. The production values barely meet that of a television drama of the time, there is more blatant and utterly unfunny comic relief (Calhoun really embarrasses himself), and the story moves at a snail's-pace, with only occasional (and dreary) "action" sequences. And once again, street-life is portrayed as being not all that bad, so much so that it too promotes boredom. Don't bother!

Wow, Molly Stewart, AKA former prostitute 'Angel', sure has changed in the three or four years since she quit hooking on the Boulevard: now played by Betsy Russell (replacing winsome Donna Wilkes, star of the first film), she's gained a couple of cup sizes, developed longer legs, sports an impressive perm, and is training to be a lawyer, thanks to the help of her guardian, Hollywood vice cop Lt. Andrews (Robert F. Lyons).

Molly's new life goes on hold, however, after Andrews is shot dead by gangsters; teaming up with her old pals, aging cowboy Kit Carson (Rory Calhoun) and lesbian landlady Solly Mosler (Susan Tyrell), she once again walks the sleazy sidewalks of Hollywood as Angel, this time looking for revenge.

For this cheesy sequel to his 1984 exploitation movie Angel, director Robert Vincent O'Neill throws any sense of realism in the nearest side-alley dumpster, opting instead for a much campier approach, his eccentric misfit characters even more exaggerated than before, his villains ridiculously reprehensible, and the violence about as cartoonish as it gets.

The film begins promisingly enough, with a car full of gangsters loading their weapons while heading downtown to 'off' a big-breasted undercover cop (who is busy taking a shower, natch!), a blaring Bronski Beat soundtrack giving everything that delightfully tacky 80s vibe. When the killers make their move, they blast their victims in the guts, resulting in some messy squib-work. Unfortunately, after this impressive opening, everything gets rather too comical for my liking (Rory Calhoun riding a gurney like a rodeo champ, as Angel and Solly bust him out of a sanitarium being the most cringe-worthy moment).

Still, even though Avenging Angel lacks the gritty edge that I generally look for in my vigilante/revenge flicks, and gets really, really dumb towards the end, the ever present sight of the delectable Miss Russell in a series of tight-as-you-like outfits, including a very sexy nurse get-up, makes the film just about bearable (no nudity from the star, but hey, I've always got her 1983 film Private School for that!).

As with the original movie (Angel), this one's got a heavy 80's vibe, and there are some humorous and likeable characters - even some from the original. This film has a much more humorous element about it than the original, while also adding more of a crime element, and has less drama than the original film.

The movie moves at a good pace, and there are some decent action scenes as well, although much of the movie seems to lack realism and there are some pretty ridiculous (even impossible) feats that take place. However, these stunts aren't as "in-your-face" as many other movies may be.

If you've seen the original and enjoyed it, you might enjoy this one as well. However, I must admit that two of the main characters from the original movie were replaced by other actors, and I hate it when that happens. Overall, it was enjoyable to a lesser extent, and I'd have to say this one fares not quite as well as the original flick.

While Avenging Angel retains the nostalgic charm of its predecessor, it falls short in delivering the same level of engagement and intensity. The plot feels a bit more scattered, and the character replacements disrupt the continuity that fans of the original might appreciate. Despite its flaws, it's still a fun watch for those who love 80's cinema, but don't expect it to surpass the original in terms of storytelling and character development.

I recently watched Avenging Angel (1985) on Tubi. The storyline follows Molly from the first film, who has turned her life around, begun attending law school, and left her life on the streets. When the police officer who made all of this possible is killed, she heads back to the underground to uncover who is behind his death.

This film is directed by Robert O'Neil (Blood Mania) and stars Betsy Russell (Saw III), Rory Calhoun (Motel Hell), Ossie Davis (Do the Right Thing), Susan Tyrrell (Cry-Baby), and Frank Doubleday (Escape from New York).

This was a worthwhile sequel to the first film. The filmmakers did a great job bringing back some characters from the original and introducing new ones. While the subplots aren't as deep as in the first film, they are still engaging enough to keep you invested in the outcome. The opening shower scene and drug raid were elite and very well executed, probably my favorite part of the film. There wasn't as much nudity as in the first picture. The acting was solid, and Ossie Davis is always a fun addition to the cast. The ending wrapped up the movie perfectly.

In conclusion, Avenging Angel is a step down from the first film but still a fun watch. I would score this a 6/10 and recommend it to fans of the first film.