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    2004-2005 reviews:
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  •  ADVERTISEMENT
     REVIEW: D.E.B.S.

    D.E.B.S.

    D.E.B.Spionage

    "D.E.B.S.," a romantic-comedy about girls inducted into a secret spy ring is cute but not as clever as it wants to be.

    By JASON GREY
    Offoffoff.com

    With political figures announcing their homosexuality on a national scale and same-sex marriage at the forefront of civil rights for gays and lesbians in this country, it is safe to say that this country has a huge social complex. These issues are still being worked out today in our political forum. However, in the dream world that plays out on our television screens night after night it is not uncommon to see gay characters and same-sex kisses on primetime shows. Television and the movies have more liberty to openly discuss topics that our political leaders need to handle sensitively. "D.E.B.S." is an independent feature lucky and smart enough to be able to play with the issues humorously within a secret-agent / love-story setting.

      
    D.E.B.S.
    Written and directed by: Angela Robinson.
    Cast: Sara Foster, Jordana Brewster, Devon Aoki, Jill Ritchie, Meagan Good, Michael Clarke Duncan, Holland Taylor, Geoff Stults, Jimmi Simpson, Jessica Cauffiel, Scoot McNairy, Ryan Xavier, Eric Bochniarz, Michael Mastro, Roger Fan, J.B. Ghuman Jr., Jenny Mollen.
    Cinematography: M. David Mullen.
    Edited by: Angela Robinson.

    Related links: Official site
    The premise of "D.E.B.S." is that there is a test hidden within the S.A.T. that determines your ability to lie cheat and steal and if you test well in this secret area of the exam you can join the world of the "D.E.B.S." That world is a government-training program in a college-like setting that prepares its students to become spies.

    Are you still with me?

    The "D.E.B.S." we follow are four girls who live together, work together, go to class together, and, when they are not fighting crime, try to help each other out in their personal lives, specifically their love lives.

    D.E.B.S.  
    Oddly enough, their archenemy Lucy Diamond, played by Jordana Brewster ("Fast and the Furious"), is a supervillain with her own henchmen who double as a personal support group. (Super-villains are human too.) When Lucy Diamond isn't out committing super-crimes she goes on blind dates with other devious criminals. One of these dates is mistaken as a meeting of criminal masterminds and the "D.E.B.S." are assigned to investigate it. It just so happens that top "D.E.B.S." student Amy (Sara Foster) has written her thesis on Lucy Diamond and when she comes face-to-face with her, Amy's abundance of information about Lucy gets twisted from being a bizarre extravagant admiration to a latent attraction.

    From here the movie steps into a bouillabaisse of confliction. Sexuality is questioned. Stereotypes are played with. Shallow issues of character content are tossed around and burning questions are asked: What would you do for love? Can you be in love with your enemy? Can you still do your job and not hurt the one you love? Freudian theorists can have a field day with "D.E.B.S." And it isn't bad for movie buffs either. The love story in "D.E.B.S." constantly reminded me of the alleged "homosexual subversive subtext" of the movie "Top Gun," the suspense as to whether our hero "will go the gay way." Writer/director Angela Robinson has quite a bit of fun here playing with the issues and the audience's expectations. She takes the love story and Amy's predicament for quite a ride.

      D.E.B.S.
    All of that aside, the D.E.B.S. fight the forces of evil in white halter tops, plaid mini-skirts and knee high socks, giving the movie a "Charlie's Angels" feel. Stir in some new millennium impudence and an appreciation for the high school/college comedy and there you have it.

    Have what?

    I don't know.

    It all sounds great on paper, but it doesn't quite translate to the big screen as slickly as one might hope. "D.E.B.S." is a lighthearted romantic comedy/spy movie that only delivers with the romance. The love story keeps you guessing, but the screwball jokes don't pack a punch. It's a spy story, but not very action-packed. If you're in junior high school you'll probably get a kick out of "D.E.B.S." It's cute and fun, and has a touch of glamour. But if you're over 18 and no longer enjoy the high-school/adolescence genre you may want to steer clear. You can always watch "Josie and the Pussycats" instead.

    MARCH 25, 2005
    OFFOFFOFF.COM • THE GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE NEW YORK


    Reader comments on D.E.B.S.:

    • [no subject]   from , April 17, 2005
      • Re: dont   from sexy shelly, Jan. 26, 2006
    • [no subject]   from ME, June 8, 2005
      • Re: Check it out   from Ahhh..., July 13, 2005
        • Re: Check it out   from SexyDreams, March 25, 2007
          • Re: Check it out   from sweethomealabama, June 19, 2007
      • Re: maxx   from sexy shelly, Jan. 26, 2006
    • The best!   from Becky, June 9, 2005
    • debs   from kayleigh, June 11, 2005
      • Re: debs   from gladys, Sept. 17, 2005
    • !!!!!!!!!   from elske, June 12, 2005
    • ????????   from ????????, June 14, 2005
    • jordana brewster   from Cynthia, June 15, 2005
    • I'm over 18 and I loved D.E.B.S.   from , June 24, 2005
    • jordana brewster   from or, June 26, 2005
      • Re: jordana brewster   from miamy, Aug. 1, 2005
        • Re: jordana brewster   from aee, Aug. 28, 2005
        • Re: jordana brewster   from cadman, Jan. 3, 2006
          • Re: jordana brewster   from buddy, Aug. 13, 2006
          • Re: jordana brewster   from carlos, Jan. 14, 2007
            • Re: jordana brewster   from Maria, March 3, 2007
    • D.E.B.S   from KimRose, July 5, 2005
    • D.E.B.S. Movie-The Best   from erod, July 12, 2005
    • Have you seen the short DEBS?   from nicky, July 23, 2005
      • Re: Have you seen the short DEBS?   from molly, Dec. 24, 2005
    • the best movie   from , July 31, 2005
      • Re: the best movie   from Hili, Aug. 21, 2006
    • I´m 20 and i loved DEBS   from catha, July 31, 2005
      • Re: I´m 20 and i loved DEBS   from gladys, Sept. 17, 2005
        • Re: I´m 20 and i loved DEBS   from cally, Dec. 7, 2005
        • Re: I´m 15 and i loved DEBS   from Amanda Fulop, Dec. 13, 2006
    • [no subject]   from cheril, Aug. 8, 2005
    • Bad bad bad movie   from Kelly Grant, Aug. 27, 2005
      • Re: Bad bad bad movie   from molly, Dec. 24, 2005
        • Re: Bad bad bad movie   from Kalin, Jan. 1, 2006
      • Re: Bad bad bad movie   from , Jan. 28, 2006
        • Re: Bad bad bad movie   from Valerie, Feb. 10, 2008
    • I'm over 50 and I liked it alot!!!!   from Deb, Sept. 17, 2005
      • Re: I'm over 50 and I liked it alot!!!!   from mcfly, Oct. 9, 2006
    • D.E.B.S/JORDANA   from vicky, Oct. 9, 2005
      • Re: D.E.B.S/JORDANA   from Jersey, Jan. 3, 2006
        • Re: D.E.B.S/JORDANA   from rita marra, June 17, 2006
      • Re: D.E.B.S/JORDANA   from Beth, Feb. 15, 2006
      • Re: D.E.B.S/JORDANA   from Klaudia, March 15, 2006
        • Re: D.E.B.S/JORDANA   from Andrea, June 16, 2006
      • Re: D.E.B.S/JORDANA   from Dea, May 14, 2006
        • Re: D.E.B.S/JORDANA   from Kashanti, June 1, 2006
    • DEBSsocool   from Erika, Oct. 12, 2005
    • D.E.B.S. is my favorite movie ever!   from Nikki, Oct. 24, 2005
    • D.E.B.S   from nikki, Nov. 15, 2005
      • Re: D.E.B.S   from amazon_ann, Nov. 22, 2005
    • i love you   from chraesiane joy dela paz, Dec. 20, 2005
      • Re: i love you   from molly, Dec. 24, 2005
    • OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   from molly, Dec. 24, 2005
    • Jill Ritchie   from gail, Dec. 30, 2005
      • Re: Jill Ritchie   from ******, Jan. 1, 2006
        • Pimpin it Out With D.E.B.S.   from Edwin, April 21, 2006
    • LOVE IT!!!!!!!!   from kalin, Dec. 31, 2005
      • Re: LOVE IT!!!!!!!!   from none, June 26, 2006
        • Re: LOVE IT!!!!!!!!   from , Dec. 13, 2006
    • they are so SEXY   from angelk, Jan. 14, 2006
      • Re: they are so SEXY   from so hot, Aug. 11, 2006
    • hey ma\eagon   from sexy Shelly, Jan. 26, 2006
    • JoRdAnA bReWsTeR!!!   from Lu!, Jan. 28, 2006
    • Jordana Brewster   from , Jan. 31, 2006
    • OMG   from taylor mcneilly, Feb. 2, 2006
    • Sara Foster   from Bri, Feb. 28, 2006
      • Re: Sara Foster   from Klaudia, March 15, 2006
        • Re: Sara Foster   from Terry, Aug. 11, 2006
      • Re: Sara Foster   from STANLEY, Dec. 6, 2006
    • Jordana Brewster   from Hottie664, March 11, 2006
      • d.e.b.s   from paige, June 1, 2006
    • oh   from blaope, March 15, 2006
      • max   from megan good's lover, June 29, 2006
    • damn   from brooke, March 18, 2006
    • Luv it!!   from just another fan!, March 22, 2006
    • I'm 9 and this movie rocked   from Linnea, March 28, 2006
    • hi   from thao, April 21, 2006
    • jornada great!   from thao, April 22, 2006
    • JORDANA BREWSTER   from ELSA MOUA, April 22, 2006
      • Re: JORDANA BREWSTER   from martha, July 3, 2007
    • ABOUT MEAGAN   from MEAGAN GOOD, April 29, 2006
    • Jordana   from Michel, May 6, 2006
    • d.e.b.s   from gantiele johnson, May 28, 2006
    • jordana brewser & sara forter best fun to world   from prety, June 8, 2006
    • fan   from rita marra, June 14, 2006
    • jordana brewster   from jonathan, June 14, 2006
    • fan   from rita marra, June 17, 2006
    • abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz   from eLAINA, June 17, 2006
    • Question   from Natasha, June 26, 2006
    • Loved it!   from Luv Song, June 28, 2006
    • D.E.B.S.   from PRIME, June 29, 2006
    • [no subject]   from vj, July 10, 2006
    • hey   from alisha, Aug. 11, 2006
    • D.E.B.S.   from bill, Aug. 24, 2006
    • mmmmm   from d"LUCY"ious, Sept. 19, 2006
    • Loved DEBS   from Shantie, Sept. 19, 2006
    • great   from sammy, Oct. 9, 2006
    • Jordana Brewster   from kubanita, Oct. 17, 2006
    • Jordana... e Io   from Claudio, Oct. 30, 2006
    • sara foster   from fritzy, Nov. 4, 2006
    • D.E.B.S   from eniego, Nov. 6, 2006
    • try   from meagan, Nov. 6, 2006
    • fantastica!! i love u idol! hehe!   from jaja, Nov. 16, 2006
    • [no subject]   from whit, Nov. 17, 2006
    • i love u.... DEBS   from celia, Dec. 3, 2006
    • jordana and sara   from celia further, Dec. 3, 2006
    • question   from diane murphy, Dec. 13, 2006
    • D.E.B.S   from Forres, Dec. 17, 2006
    • the girl's   from lil'ken, Dec. 28, 2006
    • meagan&jordana   from lil'ken, Dec. 28, 2006
    • dam   from Diana hernandez, Jan. 14, 2007
    • The cast could have been hotter   from LISA B., Jan. 30, 2007
    • d.e.b.s   from dzeki, Feb. 4, 2007
    • DEBS II plsssss!   from mikaela, Feb. 26, 2007
    • support D.E.B.S   from fan from Asia and Europ, March 21, 2007
    • DEBS 11   from Eshkim, March 21, 2007
    • the BEST movie in the whole world   from Eshkim, March 21, 2007
    • hot girls   from tena, April 15, 2007
    • good looking   from jim, May 11, 2007
    • How Good She Is in her movies   from cheyenne and dereka, June 6, 2007
    • -DEBS=NICE-   from inda, Sept. 23, 2007
    • debs   from ashley, Nov. 3, 2007

    Post a comment on "D.E.B.S."