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February 3, 2009
The Full Monty (1997)
Should I see it?
Yes.


Short Review: This film boasts some of the WORST action figures I’ve ever seen.

The Full Monty
This may be the only time I’ll have the opportunity to say “Sure, the film has male strippers but guys you’re still gonna like it.” The word that best fits this odd little film is “endearing”. It isn’t terribly funny and its not weighed down with drama. It is a mix of the two, a little like real life.

Much of the film hits close to real life for many men. The industries of Western societies have evaporated and many jobs have been lost, never to come back. The promise of steady employment is gone. The roles men once played are gone as well. In addition, many of the things men used to do to define themselves are now considered to be social ills. Following the advice of modern culture, many guys now have broken marriages and fleeting moments of court defined fatherhood. This film finds explores these bitter points with its lost characters. The story surrounds the rudderless lives of out of work steelworkers who are running out of money and meaning. They devise a ridiculous plan to put on a Chippendale’s like show with themselves in the spotlight. These men are worn down blue-collar workers who mostly have physiques that resemble coat racks. One of the men has the shape of a bag of mayonnaise. To water this down, we watch the men struggle with their personal lives while they spend their spare time learning how to dance as the big day gets closer. This is not Shakespeare but it certainly has its moments.

Much of the film rests on the shoulders of the two leads Robert Carlyle and Mark Addy. The natural chemistry between the two actors is plain to see and they work off one another well. This is not a vibrant script but these two add the needed flavor. Carlyle has an intensity that he tries to tone down for this piece but it still comes through. I get the feeling he doesn’t just sit well. Against this is Addy’s lumbering, oafish persona which anchors Carlyle. The two are a great match on screen both physically (one is an ox, the other spindly,) but also in regards to personality.

Low on the nudity, this film isn’t really about stripping. It is more about self-definition. Simon Beaufoy’s script is very dry and simple. However, it provides some pertinent moments of reflection for its characters. In the hands of first time director Peter Cattaneo, the script finds a voice that supports its quirky tone. The two working in unison produces a sleepy but memorable movie worth watching – even if it is about a bunch of slobs dangling their tackle.


Related Reviews:
Tom Wilkerson movies
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
Michael Clayton (2007)


Other Critic's Reviews:
Combustible Celluloid
Crazy for Cinema


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posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 5:00 PM




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1 Comments:

Anonymous Retro Hound said...

>fleeting moments of court defined fatherhood.

Great wording!

February 4, 2009 at 9:06 AM  

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