Rating: 
Summary: It's Dead Common!
Review: "Are You Being Served? The Movie" had enormous potential; sadly the film didn't manage to reach that potential. Instead of putting our favorite staff members from Grace Bros. into new situations Lloyd and Croft simply re-worked several former episodes, such as "A Change is as Good as a Rest" and "Dear Sexy Knickers." Add to this the removal of the staff to Costa Plonka for a holiday while the store is renovated (this could have worked if done differently.) The first half of the film is fairly good in spite of the re-used plots; we get to see a bit more of the store (such as a view of the Ladies' and Gents' Dept. from the lift looking down the stairs; the photo booth; and the Continental Beauty Salon-though where was Madame Beryl?). But how the film, containing these re-worked plot elements, would fit into a timeline of the series itself I'm not sure. Perhaps the producres were trying to appeal to audiences unfamiliar with the series. The abscence of a laugh track was interesting, though admittedly a laugh track might have helped the film which drags during much of the hotel scenes. Great potential, but the film just didn't deliver; Lloyd and Croft are capable of much better. Are You Being Served? The Movie was just dead common. This film is only for the serious collector, which I am, but others may not be.
Rating: 
Summary: Why did they bother?
Review: Are You being Server? is one of the classics of british television. I have every episode on DVD and love them. I thought this would be the climax of my collection, but sadly not. It is a sad attempt to bring the TV show to the big screen. It's basically a very lackluster re-hashing of the TV show's various skits sewn together with a poor sub-plot. Even the cast looks like they didn't want to be there.Stick to the TV series, it's the best.
Rating:
Summary: Why did they bother?
Review: Are You being Server? is one of the classics of british television. I have every episode on DVD and love them. I thought this would be the climax of my collection, but sadly not. It is a sad attempt to bring the TV show to the big screen. It's basically a very lackluster re-hashing of the TV show's various skits sewn together with a poor sub-plot. Even the cast looks like they didn't want to be there. Stick to the TV series, it's the best.
Rating:
Summary: A Big Let Down!!!!!!!
Review: As a huge fan of the original show I have watched this many times still hoping to like it someday. That day is still not here yet. I agree with all the others, It's junk. It is almost amazing that the entire, original cast could be in this and it is so bad. The live studio laughter from the TV show gave the actors something to feed off of. This is not here in this movie and makes it(And them) very dull. And yes, the television show (1973-1985) was recorded live, and did not use a laugh track. Even a phoney, pre recorded laugh track could have done this film some good. If anything this film proves a goog joke is so much better in front of a live crowd. They feed off you and you feed off them. It is a natural human response to laugh when you hear others laughing first. Also, many of the bits are old jokes they did in the series and none of them are as funny here. Actually none of them are. It really is such a shame the only time these people got together to play these parts in a film, This is the result.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the wait
Review: Don't get me wrong. I LOVE this show. And this feature length film is the only peice of AYBS? material that I have never seen before. But like so many other TV shows, AYBS? doesn't survive the transition from small screen to big screen. Basically, the cast is off for 2 weeks vacation in a banana republic. The first half hour or so plays like a typical episode of the series, though it's filed with recycled gags from the show. There's also a lot of exposition to bring new viewers up to speed. If I didn't know better, i'd swear that this part of the film was shot near the end of the series' run, when recycled gags and plotlines abounded. Things really fall apart once the characters arrive in Costa Plonka. LIke the ill-fated spin-off 'Grace and Favour', the characters just don't work once you take them out of the department store. In the end, this film will be better appreciated for it's nostalgic value and it's rarity. I would not recommended it to anyone who is not already a fan of the series. Also of note is the film's poor sound quality. I had to turn my speakers up almost to full just to hear half the dialog, and even then some of it is so muddled you'll wonder what was said.
Rating: 
Summary: Movie: 2 Television Series: 10 Too bad!
Review: First of all, let me say that I am American and "Are You Being Served? (the t.v. series) is one of my all time favorite shows. It is rife with clever humor, memorable characters, excellent actors, wonderful innuendo, and often sharp writing. This movie is not. Possibly the biggest mistake is taking the characters out of their natural element: Grace Brothers Department Store. Granted, at the time, the writers must have thought they needed to do so in order to expand the scope for a film. I'm sure that they were correct, in part. But the way in which they took the characters out of the store is pitifully lacking. Grumpy, tipsey Mrs. Slocumb; fey Mr. Humphreys; superior Captain Peacock; dottering Mr. Grainger; sexy but common Miss Brahms; randy Mr. Lucas; and jug-eared Mr. Rumbold are very lovable and very loved characters. Add in cockney and sly Mr. Harmon and you've got a recipe for hilarity. Sadly "The Movie" doesn't really deliver on that. The beginning of the movie is the funniest - it is set in the department store. It is also slightly surreal as we are introduced to the characters as if we were seeing them for the first time and as if they didn't already have a history with each other. (Since the movie is a spin-off of the highly popular television series, this introduction seems unwarranted). The premise is that the store must close and Mr. Grace has sprung for a vacation for the department to go to Costa Plonka in Spain. Sound familiar? Of course it does. It was a premise of one of the episodes. Once there the staff is relegated to staying in tents in the garden of the hotel. Sound familiar? It's another episode. (the whole Mrs. Slocumb and the flatulant air mattress is even included). Mr. Humphrey's dons women's clothing; and Mr. Harmon outsmarts everyone. Basically what I'm saying is that there is no real new material here......except for the finale....and that ain't good news. Why, oh why, anyone would find it funny having a revolutionary general beginning his insurrection in the hotel? Not only does it not make a lick of sense pragmatically, but comically it is the death knell for the movie. There is one thing that the movie did that the series never did: Mr. Humphreys is definitely gay in the movie, but it was always a source of fun speculation in the series. It's a mistake. Though written by the same writers as the series, it seems to have taken all the things that were wrong in the series and used them to make the film. Gone is the banter at the ubiquitous "staff meetings" or the "canteen lunches". Instead, the writers miss the chance at an al fresco dinner to do the same. Mr. Grainger was always a source of hilarity with his dottering ways - and yet here he's almost written as an afterthought. I don't understand the mistake with this movie. In 1977 the series was still in production and was quite funny. What happened here? I speculate that the writers didn't have the time to really give the time necessary to the film. I bought this DVD without having ever seen the film. I don't regret it as it is part of what I consider my AYBS collection, but if you want to get your first taste of this phenonomenal series by seeing the movie first - DON'T! Watch the episodes on your local PBS station here in the U.S. or rent the episodes or buy them at your local store or here on Amazon. Each one is a gem, though as with any show - some are better than others. However, not a single one of them is bad - something I cannot say about this film. It's really a shame. "And I'm unanimous in that!"
Rating: 
Summary: Are you Being Served the Movie
Review: Great movie, however some of the lines are the exact same from the show. It is though a must see for any fan of AYBS.
Rating: 
Summary: Are You Being Served: The Movie - - AYBS in a nutshell
Review: Having been a fan of AYBS for a number of years, I eagarly awaited arrival of this video, and the wait did not disappoint me. Old fans and new acquaintances will enjoy this movie once a few guidelines are realized. First, this is a movie and not a television show. The laughtrack is gone but the set is more realistic and more modern (the store setting, for example, looks like a real store and not a stage prop). Previous reviews regarding poor sound and lighting quality are perhaps a bit too demanding, as is the complaint that the jokes are straight from the show. I went through the entire movie before I "remembered the jokes" -- they flow through the movie well. Second, please remember that this is AYBS, its not supposed to be realistic as no good comedy is. The original cast is here, in their youthful, energetic selves. Its only fault, in my opinion, is that there's a lengthy delay before they get into the trip itself, but this is only a minor problem. I would recommend this video to anyone, providing that they judge the movie by its own standards and not compare it to the show.
Rating:
Summary: A hilarious movie, finally on DVD!
Review: Having been an Are You Being Served fan for 10 years, I am thrilled to see the AYBS? movie finally arrive on DVD. The picture quality looks great; the widescreen presentation along with the crisp colors are beautiful. The sound seems a bit quiet at times, but that seems to be due more to the actors' understated delivery of dialog than any technical deficiency. The disc is lacking of any special features save for a theatrical trailer and chapter selection menu. I think though, for any true AYBS? fan, the sheer fact that this (in the past) hard to find film is on a fabulous looking DVD is more than enough.
Rating:
Summary: Not up to snuff
Review: Having viewed and enjoyed just about every episode of the Are You Being Served? TV show, I finally got down to seeing the movie recently. While it had a smattering of mild-to-moderately entertaining moments and a few snickers here & there, overall it wasn't quite "up to snuff" (as it were) in the laughs department when compared to the series it was based on. Sadly, a great deal of the gags and banter were lifted (or slightly modified) from various eppies of the TV show, but were not executed quite as well this time around. Even the obligatory stock gags (e.g. allusions to Mr. Humphries' alleged... er... fluffiness, Mr. Lucas' endless array of smart@$$ remarks & lustful leering at Ms. Brahms, Mrs. Slocombe's feline companion, etc.), which usually kill me every time they pop up on the telly series, didn't do much for me here. On the upside: at least I finally got to see the Grace Bros. staff outside their usual environment, something I seldom saw in their small-screen misadventures. And it was also interesting to see how AYBS looks on a movie budget-- which apparently isn't too different from what it normally looks on a TV budget. From what I can gather, the only real diffs are the widescreen format, a better film stock, and the lack of a laugh track... Bottom line: if you're a fairly close follower of the Are You Being Served? TV show but haven't seen this yet, this is worth at least a rental... if only to sate your curiosity. Otherwise, the AYBS movie ain't exactly what I'd consider a "keeper". And I am unanimous in this opinion, by the way... 'Late
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