Avenging Angel

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!

Having just sat through the subpar 1984 movie "Angel", I still opted to carry on with the 1985 sequel "Avenging Angel". Though, I have to admit that I didn't exactly harbor the biggest of expectations to the movie.

Writers Robert Vincent O'Neil, Joseph Michael Cala and Sandra K. Bailey put together a script and storyline that was even less entertaining and enjoyable than the script for the previous movie. The narrative in "Avenging Angel" felt random and disjointed, as if the writers were working individually on parts of the storyline without speaking to one another, and it made for a wobbly narrative.

Rory Calhoun, Steven M. Porter and Susan Tyrrell returned to reprise their characters from the 1984 movie "Angel", so that was nice. There were a few other familiar faces on the cast list, with the likes of Betsy Russell, Frank Doubleday, Liz Sheridan, Barry Pearl and Ross Hagen. The acting performances in the movie were fair.

"Avenging Angel" was far from an overly entertaining or enjoyable movie, and it was a struggle to sit through the prolonged 93 minutes that the movie ran for.

This is definitely not a movie that will grace my screen a second time.

My rating of director Robert Vincent O'Neil's 1985 movie "Avenging Angel" lands on a three out of ten stars.

Completely tone than the first movie. Where the first Angel has a serious, somewhat sad, and grim take on the story of a young, smart woman working the seedy streets of Hollywood to pay for her private schooling and apartment, this movie is made with a much lighter tone.

Betsy Russell takes over the role from Donna Wilkes. She does fine, but lacks the vulnerability and hurt that Wilkes brought to the role. Rory Calhoun is back and any restraint he used in the first movie is gone here. He plays WAY over the top, along with Susan Tyrell as the wacky, psychopathic apartment landlord. It is great! He is very likable and brings heart to the movie. Something, as much I as love her, Russell can not manage too well.

The plot is more of the same. This time, Angel's cop buddy/mentor (played by a completely different looking actor from the first) is murdered and since the cops aren't doing much, it is up to Angel and her gang of misfits to avenge his death. The tone, as mentioned before, is quite silly this time around. It now feels more comic book adventure and less gritty drama.

Everyone in this movie is out of their minds. Calhoun is convinced (and it never proven he is wrong) he is Kit Carson, legendary cowboy. Tyrell is a rodeo clown without a rodeo. Every time she shows up, the movie cranks up to an eleven! There is Micheal J Pollard look-alike,Steven M. Porter as "Yo-Yo Charlie". He is fun, but underused in this critics opinion. And finally, they add a new character, Johnny Glitter, played with zero restraint by Barry Pearl. I love how every time he enters the scene he is accompanied with a cloud of glitter. He is a very silly, unreal character. Somewhere is in all of this mess, Ossie Davis shows up a police captain who doesn't follow the rules, and a baby that is very well behaved, even while being hung over a high drop.

Avenging Angel can be a fun movie if you go in with little expectations and just want to have some fun. Sit back, riff with your friends, and forget about the movie soon after.

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.