Watch: Beyonce, Lady GaGa go gun-happy in 'Video Phone' music video

Inside Analysis

• Beyonce and Lady GaGa are licensed to shoot—video that is—in B’s clip. Beyonce’s shaking her money maker non-stop here, but unlike “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” the sexuality seems forced and, therefore, not sexy. She looks amazing, of course, but the gun-as-phallus motif wears thin about a minute in. Plus, the torture scene, as colorful as it may be--we’ve never seen a torture victim in pink before—is just in bad taste.
   
  There is no chemistry whatsoever between Beyonce and Lady GaGa, who comes in two-thirds of the way in a matching white body suit.  Let’s face it, even though she’s still relatively new, Lady GaGa cannot and will not play second banana to anyone. The synchronized chair dancing segment is pretty cool though. In both this and her “Bad Romance,” GaGa looks nearly unrecognizable. We can’t figure out if it’s just the lack of sunglasses.
   
  Would it have killed them to make it more camp? Then it would have been fun. Instead, it's some weird, James Bond, futuristic, costume caper.
   
  The song is nothing and now there’s a very-high priced fashion show video to go with it that can double as Beyonce’s audition tape to play a spy—not of the Austin Powers variety. Nice way to multi-task, Beyonce.
  
  
  ~ Melinda Newman