Who is Candy Baby?

Candy Baby is a minor but memorable femme fatale character in the 1996 comedy crime film Kingpin. Portrayed by actress and model Vanessa Angel, Candy Baby is an opportunistic beach drifter who scams tourists to make a living. Her actions set in motion the film‘s central conflict, making her an influential noir "vixen" archetype.

Candy Baby as a Noir Femme Fatale Trope

Candy Baby represents a classic film noir archetype – the femme fatale. Femme fatales were gorgeous but dangerous women who used their allure and sexuality to manipulate men, often leading them into peril. Candy Baby encompasses many of the typical traits of this character type:

• She uses her beauty and suggestive dancing to distract male tourists while pickpocketing them. Her sexuality is a deliberate weapon.
• She preys on the vulnerable male lead (Roy Munson), tempting him with her looks to let his guard down.
• Her actions set off a chain reaction of dangerous events beyond the protagonist‘s control.
• She disappears from the story quickly, her work as a catalytic temptress accomplished.

Some other iconic femme fatales in cinema include:

• Brigid O‘Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon (1941)
• Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
• Kathie Moffat in Out of the Past (1947)
• Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity (1944)

These characters walk a fine line between attractive and treacherous. While their end goal is usually financial profit, their means are through dangerous manipulation. Candy Baby is a modern rendition of this classic character type.

Commentary on the Femme Fatale Trope

The femme fatale is sometimes criticized as misogynistic – implying women use their looks as weapons. But these characters also convey female empowerment in a world dominated by men. While their morals are questionable, these women wield power in a suppressed society.

It‘s unlikely the filmmakers intended any deep social commentary with Candy Baby‘s small role. But she does demonstrate the lasting impact of the femme fatale motif in American noir. Even in comedic form, the allure and treachery of these women continues to fascinate modern audiences.

Vanessa Angel‘s Performance as Candy Baby

English model and actress Vanessa Angel likely drew inspiration from famous femme fatales to bring Candy Baby to life. This role came early in her career, before wider success in shows like Weird Science.

According to directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly, Angel took her minor role seriously, immersing herself in Candy Baby‘s cunning personality:

"Vanessa really sunk her teeth into that small part. She studied similar film vixens and pinpointed exactly how to convey Candy‘s detached allure and opportunism."

Critics singled out Angel‘s performance as a highlight of Kingpin. With little screen time, she used body language and facial expressions to capture Candy Baby‘s risky nature:

"Newcomer Angel is a standout as the sultry pickpocketing siren who catalyzes the plot. With just a few lines, she projects a dangerous sensuality and amorality that epitomizes Candy‘s femme fatale essence." – Roger Ebert

This early role showed Angel‘s range with seductive, tricky characters – cementing her potential as a versatile leading lady. While minor, her turn as Candy Baby has become one of Angel‘s most memorable credits.

Vanessa Angel‘s Background

Born in England in 1970, Vanessa Angel began her career as a model in Paris and New York before transitioning to acting in 1993. Her exotic beauty made her a natural for provocative, mysterious characters:

• Got her breakout role in Kingpin (1996) as Candy Baby
• Appeared in Weird Science TV series from 1994-1998
• Played Julie Rogers on Baywatch from 1997-1998
• Starred in cult films like Stargate SG-1 and National Lampoon‘s Pledge This!

Kingpin marked her entrance into Hollywood after success as a model. Candy Baby let Angel tap into her ability to project temptation and danger – a talent she would refine in later femme fatale parts.

Analysis of Kingpin‘s Neo-Noir Style

Kingpin is classified as a neo-noir crime comedy – putting a new spin on classic film noir style and tropes. Director brothers Peter and Bobby Farrelly were known for edgy, raunchy comedies like Dumb and Dumber.

In Kingpin, they infused the seedy underbelly of noir with outrageous humor and slapstick. While paying homage to vintage noir, the Farrellys also subverted its conventions.

Neo-Noir Trends in the 1990s

Kingpin arrived during a neo-noir resurgence in the 1990s. Updated takes on the genre featured:

• Contemporary urban settings instead of vintage L.A. or New York
• New graphic novel and alternative comic influences
• Mixing classic motifs with fresh genres like sci-fi and comedy

Some other influential neo-noirs of the ‘90s include:

Kingpin‘s exaggerated characters and buddy comedy structure gave neo-noir a fresh, crowd-pleasing tone.

Comparison to Other Coen Brothers Films

The Farrelly Brothers‘ irreverent "low-brow" humor diverges from Joel and Ethan Coen‘s more artful noir storytelling in films like Fargo, Blood Simple, and The Man Who Wasn‘t There.

However, both duos play with and subvert the genre. The Farrellys Engineer outrageous scenarios compared to the Coens‘ deadpan violence. And the Coens tend to stick to pure crime drama, while Kingpin meshes noir with bowling, disability humor, and gross-out laughs.

Still, these directors all clearly share an admiration for classic noir. They reimagine familiar tropes but retain a spirit of moral ambiguity and fatalism. Candy Baby fits right into both directing styles as an amoral temptress with dubious motives.

The Symbolism of Candy Baby‘s Name

The name "Candy Baby" is obviously meant to evoke temptation and sensuality. "Candy" implies sweetness, addiction, and guilty pleasures. "Baby" denotes her youthful sexuality and flirtatious nature.

Her candy-coated nickname contrasts the harsher reality of her survivalist pickpocketing scam. It‘s likely an alias she uses to allure tourists rather than her real identity. The name also infantilizes her, highlighting the power she wields over men despite her young age and seemingly innocent appearance.

This provocative nickname encapsulates how Candy Baby embodies vice and seduction. Her moniker is as important to her femme fatale persona as her appearances and actions.

Conclusion

In the end, Candy Baby is a minor plot device – she quickly exits the film after igniting the conflict. But her archetype as the irresistible but treacherous siren is what lingers most. Actress Vanessa Angel clearly relished portraying someone who wields her sexuality as a weapon.

While the directors played her character for laughs, Angel gave Candy Baby a cunning dimension true to her noir roots. For me, Candy Baby represents both the enduring appeal but also limitations of the femme fatale trope in contemporary cinema.

So in summary – Candy Baby is a fictional sunny seductress who kickstarts the downfall of the film‘s would-be hero. Portrayed by an up-and-coming talent, she gave us just a taste of her aptitude for fatal femininity and seductive scams.