The Full Monty

Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: A fresh comedy that had become a classic for people all ages. Spectacular acting and message.

Rating:
Summary: I Can Only Give It FIVE Stars???
Review: Not too many movies make me laugh all the way through, while still having a good plot that keeps up the interest in the story. And yes, men will enjoy the film too, because it's not really about stripping...it's about friendship and loyalty.

I didn't expect to like this movie, but it has become one of my favorites. It's one I can watch over and over. The soundtrack is fun, the characters are likable and well-acted, and the movie is a keeper! You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: The Full Monty
Review: This movie was surprisingly funny! I originally thought that this one wouldn't be good just on the basis of it's plot but in the end, this movie delivers a lot of laughs and for the ladies, some great male stripping that's really funny.

It starts out with 2 friends, Gazzer and Dave. Both are recently laid off steel mill workers and are looking for work. After they get turned away from their favorite bar because of an all ladies Chippendale performance, Gazzer gets a great idea, "what if we were strippers? We'd make a lot of money". Just one problem, there's only 2 of them and they can't dance. After holding some open tryouts, they find some other guys they used to work with that want to do this as well, including their former foreman that's also unemployed. While working on their routine, Gazzer realizes that they have to do something special, they have to do THE FULL MONTY (be completely naked). Now it's a question of who's still in it.

O.k. even though I'm a guy, I still laughed at this one because it's still pretty funny. The guys are really funny, the music and soundtrack is great (a lot of great hits from the 70's) and just because the guys are the most unlikely strippers is pretty funny. That and this movie took a lighthearted look on some very serious topics like suicide, divorce, homosexuality, unemployment and even the difficulty of being overweight. You'd be surprised, but this movie might hit somewhere with some people.

Ladies will definitely get a kick out of this one and even the guys can take a laugh out of this. And for any of you guys plotting to do your own type of Chippendales thing, here's an instructional video for you = ) In any case, this is an enjoyable movie. And who could forget the "fun with Garden Gnomes" scene? That scene alone is hilarious. Anyway, check out THE FULL MONTY and if you're looking for another good International movie, check out WAKING NED DEVINE, CHOCOLAT and this is a good one from Japan, TAMPOPO. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: The same but different from other brit flicks - hilarious!
Review: I don't want to repeat what other reveiwers have said, but this film is HILAIRIOUS.

The actors are perfect for their roles, and it manages to do what other brit flick films haven't - realism without being so depressing they serve prozac outside the cinema.

Also, THE CHARECTERS HAVE REAL ACCENTS!

Trust me; you will find no Dick Van Dykes or Helen Baxendale accents in this film.Coming from Wigan, in Northern England myself it gets SO annoying when all Brits in movie are so BLOODY POSH!

Like i've said; the film is hilairious. But their are times when it chokes you up, particularily the scenes with Gazes son. Robert Carlisle has such stage presance you really feel the emotions, but the gags start again within seconds.

Everyone should buy this film, it's such a boredom breaker when it's raining and it cheers me up every time.

so ta for readin ive got fot go fot eat sum pies, see ya!

Rating:
Summary: Funny and Insightful
Review: This film has some moments of hilarity that will make you laugh until you cry; but it also has moments that will cause some reflection. And in the end, it's actually somewhat gentle fare, considering the subject matter, which on the surface may seem wont to lend itself to a much coarser interpretation. Rest assured, however, "The Full Monty," directed by Peter Cattaneo, is a fun-filled excursion that skirts some serious issues while warmly embracing the more humorous aspects of the human condition. It's a telling study of desperation without the misery, of loss without the moroseness, and finally it's an upbeat, uplifting tale of pursuing possibilities, and what it means to reach for the rainbow in the wake of the storm.

The film opens with a clip that could've been prepared by any local chamber of commerce, touting the city of Sheffield, England, as a growing concern in the industrial market, a veritable city on the move. The story then quickly jumps ahead twenty-five years, and we find that the once booming steel business has been quieted, the mill closed down indefinitely. Which means, of course, that many able bodied workers are out of a job, and their prospects for the future are less than bleak. Among those forced to go on the dole are Gaz Schofield (Robert Carlyle) and his friend, Dave (Mark Addy), whose lives become especially complicated by their current status of "unemployed." Unable to make child support payments, Gaz is about to lose visitation rights with his son, Nathan (William Snape), and losing his job has left Dave emasculated, leading to problems with his wife, Jean (Lesley Sharp).

Then one night the "Chippendales" show arrives in town, and for the "ladies only" performance, the local venue is sold out, at ten quid a head. And after having a quick peek at the dancers for himself, inspiration suddenly strikes Gaz, who figures if a bunch of "puffers" like the Chippendales can cause such a stir, why not some local talent? Like himself, Dave, and whoever else he can get to jump on the bandwagon with him. The kicker is, Gaz knows that they're going to have to go the Chippendales one up; and that means going "The Full Monty." If they're going to pack 'em in, they're going to have to go all the way...

Peter Cattaneo is to be commended for handling so sensitive a subject and the accompanying issues with such warmth and humor. Let's face it, a story about a bunch of guys who resort to "stripping" in order to survive could have gone in an entirely different direction. But thanks to the insights of Cattaneo and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, the result is a film that reaches out and touches the humanity in us all. The characters are all richly drawn and delivered by Cattaneo through his actors with great care. These are very real people with whom anyone past the age of majority will be able to identify, in one way or another. And that's what really sells the film. Cattaneo keeps it all very real and down-to-earth, sets an effective pace and backs it all up with a terrific soundtrack of contemporary music. Who will be able to come away from this film NOT at least humming Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing," or thinking about the scene in which "Horse" (Paul Barber) "auditions" to Wilson Pickett's "Land of 1000 Dances?" Or when the guys, after having rehearsed for awhile, are on line at the employment office when Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" comes on and they can't keep still. Cattaneo takes a positive approach to negative issues, wraps it all up in humility, humanity and hard work, and in doing so he gives his audience a film that is highly entertaining, emotionally involving and unforgettable.

Heading up the ensemble cast, Robert Carlyle is right on with his portrayal of Gaz. He completely captures the blue collar, working class image and attitude that defines his character so succinctly. And he convincingly conveys the fact that he doesn't know one "beat" from another, as evidenced by the way he is "always ahead" of the rest, regardless of which piece of music they're dancing to.

Mark Addy captures the essence of who these guys are, as well, giving a memorable performance as Dave. His is an extremely sensitive portrayal of of a man dealing with some very personal problems, which he addresses through his character quite believably. And, in Dave's case, especially, Addy manages to elicit empathy without making him unduly sympathetic, which affords him, as well as the others and the film, the ability to maintain a semblance of dignity in the face of adversity, which is essentially one of the main tenets of the story.

Also turning in an effective performance is Tom Wilkinson as Gerald, the former foreman of the steel mill, now reduced to being just one of the guys, and on the dole along with the rest of them. Wilkinson brings to light the fact that Gerald's issues are somewhat different from the rest initially, but he gradually develops his character to the extent that you finally understand that Gerald is not so different from Gaz or Dave or the others after all. And it's Wilkinson's insightful portrayal that more than any of the others cements that sense of community which is, in the end, the great equalizer of the species.

The supporting cast includes Steve Huison (Lomper), Hugo Speer (Guy), Emily Woof (Mandy), Deirdre Costello (Linda), Paul Butterworth (Barry), Dave Hill (Alan) and Bruce Jones (Reg). In reality, losing one's means of survival can be a devastating experience. And what Cattaneo has done with "The Full Monty" is establish a sense of hope for those who may find themselves one day in the "outbox" of life, and he's done it with style, class and that most necessary of all of life's ingredients, humor. This is a film to embrace-- and to enjoy over and over again.

Rating:
Summary: Downright hilarious! The best British comedy I have seen yet
Review: Alongside "Shooting Fish" (starring Kate Beckinsale from Pearl Harbor and Stuart Townsend (Queen of the Damned), "The Full Monty" is a funny British comedy that will have you laughing after you take the disc (or video) out. I recommend the DVD edition because it contains 2 different English dialogue tracks (the British version and the U.S. version). I can't exactly remember which one I watched but all I remember is that this was a movie to own. I have yet to purchase this, but I will soon enough. Buy this movie and "Shooting Fish" together, sit back and laugh!

Rating:
Summary: Feelings stipped bare
Review: I had a hard time convincing a friend of mine, one of the biggest film buffs of all time, to watch this movie. Being a red-blooded American male he said he had no desire to "see a bunch of men stripping." This is so far from the core and truth of this movie. To me, the Full Monty is about regaining pride and dignity and a sense of self when one has been robbed of one's livelihood. The movie would be even more timely today, in the wake of the felling of corporate giants and the transplanting of manufacturing to other countries. It shows the pervasive nature of unemployment; how it wrecks one's relationships and takes a toll on one's energy and psyche. It answers questions close to all men's hearts: Is a man a man without a job? Can a man separate his working self from his romantic and other selves? If one has been a boss, a leader, are those qualities still there when one is no longer in charge? When the beauracratic labels have been stripped away, can the men be friends?

Lest I make this sound too serious, take it from me that this movie strikes a very loving and warmhearted, goofy tone, and as everyone says, the sound track propels the viewer into a state of euphoria that lasts throughout the movie. I thought when I first saw it that I'd remember it only as that year's sleeper, but years later it remains one of my favorite movies. See it and enjoy it. Don't be put off (or too excited by) the stripping angle-you won't see much bare skin, only bare, honest emotions.

Rating:
Summary: Letting it all hang out...
Review: Gaz is in a bit of a rut. The steel mill has closed and left him among the many unemployed in the region. His ex-wife has a new man and without a huge alimony catch-up, he will be torn from the thing he cares most about in this world, his son. But he is no ordinary guy, because he has a plan. He has gathered a group of gorgeous hunks... errr make that a ragtag group of unemployed everymen who are going to strip for their supper.

The surprise hit THE FULL MONTY was such an enjoyable film that it garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. The performers are led by the effective, enrolling Robert Carlyle (The World is Not Enough). He adds real humanity to his desperate quest. Also of note is Tom Wilkinson (In the Bedroom) as a browbeaten husband, Gerald. Never has unemployment been so funny and touching. A scene where the entire troupe bops while waiting for their unemployment checks had me laughing for the next ten minutes.

The DVD has a nice video transfer and two audio tracks. Both are English tracks but one is a more Americanized dubbing. THE FULL MONTY is a clever film that has a lot to say about overcoming adversity.

Rating:
Summary: Thank goodness Hollywood didn't do this film!
Review: If this had been done by Hollywood they would have cast "lookers" instead of real/average blokes. It's the ability to relate to the guys in this film that makes it so memorable.

The premise seems silly but it works because the actors are so believable. Average guys who are out of work and needing money for a variety of reasons - child support, self-esteem, lifestyle, etc. They see women spending money to see a Chippendales show and decide that they could make the money they need by doing their own show and offering "the full monty". The rehearsals are great as are each man's struggles with the idea and reality of what they are facing.

I've recommended this film to several friends, all of whom loved it as much as I do. If you like to cheer for the underdog you should enjoy the movie as that's what it's all about.

I still can't see a garden gnome without getting the giggles. If this makes you curious check out The Full Monty!

Rating:
Summary: "It's not bad - this stripping lark - is it?"
Review: The Full Monty is a "right good laff" (to borrow the parlance of its protagonists). Although the dialect may occasionally bewilder viewers unused to north-England speech, the humour doesn't need any translation. Gaz is down on his luck and is possessed of an endless supply of far-fetched money-making schemes. Inspired with a visit by the renowned Chippendale male strip-show artists to his hometown of Sheffield, and impressed at the huge amounts of money they make by seemingly just taking off their clothes and prancing around a bit, Gaz decides this is his ticket to some fast cash.

Part of the reason this film is likeable is that humour and realism go hand in hand. From the depressing backdrop of an industrial town with high unemployment, Gaz manages to cobble together a troupe of six unlikely strippers, including a suicidal security worker, a man with a dodgy hip, and a well-endowed bathroom repairman. These guys aren't super-studs, they're just ordinary blokes who are willing to give it a shot, and maybe, just maybe, get rich.

The film begins with Gaz and his friend Dave becoming marooned on a partially submerged car in the middle of a canal (the unanticipated result of one Gaz's plans), and the originality of the comedy continues throughout. So fresh is the humour, that the occasional moments when it sinks to the level of slapstick and cliche, disrupt the natural feel of the movie. The funniest sequences involve the self-titled 'Hot Metal' strippers - who have trouble comprehending dance moves unless they're related to positioning on a soccer field - attempting to master the strip-tease bump and grind (accompanied by a fabulous soundtrack of retro tunes, including Donna Summer and Hot Chocolate).