Rating: 
Summary: Who Am I?
Review: A woman's movie, "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells" was both nostalgic and provocative. The cast included first-rate actors Dame Judi Dench, Olympia Dukakis, Ian Holm, and Leslie Caron who never disappoint. Add to this the vocal artistry of Cleo Lane performing the songs of the forties era, and you are transported to your own long ago and far away. Dame Judi Dench portrays an aging woman who has just lost her husband. Her marriage brought her love and family, a fair share of things material and . . . contentment. But she is at the point now when she can reflect on her life and "The Girl Who Used to Be Me" (theme song from the equally poignant movie, "Shirley Valentine"). Much of the movie, for me, centered on the relationship between the grandmother and her young granddaughter. In a particularly moving scene near the beginning of the film, the granddaughter comes into her grandmother's home to find her alone upstairs playing a tenor saxophone. She sees a side of her grandmother she never knew existed, perhaps even sees her as a person for the first time. Her grandmother tells her that she has played only for herself over the years and only when her husband was away from the house, but that during the war years she was in an essentially all-female band that achieved some measure of recognition. The story unfolds fairly predictably as the widowed grandmother has a chance meeting with the aging and dapper only male member of the band. With her granddaughter's encouragement, the grandmother and he set out to locate the other band members for a reunion performance at her school dance. The characters are portrayed with sensitivity and dignity, humor and pathos. The aging process can be as unfamiliar and unsettling as was first love, intimacy, and raising a family. It involves looking back and moving ahead . . . and, in this case, moving ahead as a person of proven, continuing worth in the world's eyes and, more importantly, in the eyes of one's grandchildren. Dare I say, "Amen."
Rating:
Summary: Who Am I?
Review: A woman's movie, "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells" was both nostalgic and provocative. The cast included first-rate actors Dame Judi Dench, Olympia Dukakis, Ian Holm, and Leslie Caron who never disappoint. Add to this the vocal artistry of Cleo Lane performing the songs of the forties era, and you are transported to your own long ago and far away. Dame Judi Dench portrays an aging woman who has just lost her husband. Her marriage brought her love and family, a fair share of things material and . . . contentment. But she is at the point now when she can reflect on her life and "The Girl Who Used to Be Me" (theme song from the equally poignant movie, "Shirley Valentine"). Much of the movie, for me, centered on the relationship between the grandmother and her young granddaughter. In a particularly moving scene near the beginning of the film, the granddaughter comes into her grandmother's home to find her alone upstairs playing a tenor saxophone. She sees a side of her grandmother she never knew existed, perhaps even sees her as a person for the first time. Her grandmother tells her that she has played only for herself over the years and only when her husband was away from the house, but that during the war years she was in an essentially all-female band that achieved some measure of recognition. The story unfolds fairly predictably as the widowed grandmother has a chance meeting with the aging and dapper only male member of the band. With her granddaughter's encouragement, the grandmother and he set out to locate the other band members for a reunion performance at her school dance. The characters are portrayed with sensitivity and dignity, humor and pathos. The aging process can be as unfamiliar and unsettling as was first love, intimacy, and raising a family. It involves looking back and moving ahead . . . and, in this case, moving ahead as a person of proven, continuing worth in the world's eyes and, more importantly, in the eyes of one's grandchildren. Dare I say, "Amen."
Rating: 
Summary: Great stars, great music, great story
Review: Dame Judi won a Golden Globe for her delightful portrayal of a grandmother, newly widowed, who was a member of an all girl band during World War II. At the instigation of her granddaughter, she decides to have a reunion for the grandchild's school dance. After searching in England, Scotland and France several members return. Totally predictable but a great romp where Dame Judi, Olympia Dukakis and Ian Holm tickle your funnybone. A perfect feel good movie.
Rating:
Summary: Judi Rules !
Review: I agree completely with the other positive reviews of "The Last of the Blonde Bombshells", so I'll not repeat the plot details, and other comments. The film is a delight !
I must express my frustration that witty, poignant films like this, clearly aimed at an older audience, do not seem to appear in the local cineplex.
There may be one or two actresses in the world as good as Dame Judi--but none are better. She really shines here, even in a cast of superb veteran British actors, not to mention non-Brits Dukakis and Caron. So nice to see Ms. Caron on screen again, even in a cameo, some 50 years after "An American in Paris".
So--a real winner--and the price is right.
Recommended. One very sad footnote--I believe that this was Joan Sims' last
film. Ms. Sims was a delightful character actress, and, of course, an indispensible member of the legendary "Carry On Gang".
She will be missed.
Rating:
Summary: The Last of the Blonde Bombshells
Review: I am buy a copy of this film for every one on my Christmas list,young and old . I love the cast,it was great to see all of them again.The music was great. My 15 year old grandson saidit was COOL.
Rating:
Summary: Swing with the best in this nostalgic jazz flashback
Review: I loved this movie when I saw it on HBO, and can't wait to buy it. The script is a delight, as are all the actors - from the little girl to the 1940's flashback band, to the current day chronies jazzing it up again. Judi is as always a delight, and Dame Cleo Laine proves she's still got that swing in her voice. Now if they would only come out with the soundtrack on CD!
Rating:
Summary: Fun from start to finish a great one!
Review: I rented this movie on a day I really wasn't feeling too well. It was a wonderful tapestry of different characters who, in the end, made up the most wonderful wall mount I have ever seen. Judy Dench was her usual magical self, and the support was excellent too. It was good to see some of the "old timers" again, and they are just as good as ever. Good to see the old country too! Thanks for a good 1 1/2 hours of great viewing. I felt a ton better when it was over.
Rating:
Summary: Fun from start to finish a great one!
Review: I rented this movie on a day I really wasn't feeling too well. It was a wonderful tapestry of different characters who, in the end, made up the most wonderful wall mount I have ever seen. Judy Dench was her usual magical self, and the support was excellent too. It was good to see some of the "old timers" again, and they are just as good as ever. Good to see the old country too! Thanks for a good 1 1/2 hours of great viewing. I felt a ton better when it was over.
Rating:
Summary: Three things to love
Review: If you love Dame Judi, nostalgia and intergenerational angst you'll love this one...so guess it's really four things to love.
Rating:
Summary: Judi Dench, Olympia Dukakis, Leslie Caron and Cleo Laine
Review: Judi Dench is a recent widow who wonders what happened to her life. In her youth she was the star saxaphonist for an all girl swing band, The Blonde Bombshells. She picks up her sax and busks with a young musician. There she is reunited with the only male member of the band, a womanizing drummer who played in drag. Together, try to reunite the band. They manage to find the band leader(She played Madge in Dench's series As Time Goes by), the trumpet player(Dukakis' drunken rich lady is wonderful), the singer, and another band member who joined the Salvation Army. Together, they ready themselves for their first gig, Dench's granddaughter's school dance. Dench, as usual, is excellent in this role. The supporting cast is cast pretty near perfectly, especially Dench's stodgy children. You find yourself rooting for the band's reunion very soon into the story, and the film does not disappoint.
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