...
It's set in Sheffield and directed by Peter Cattaneo who also directed the Ruby Wax comedy series The Full Wax. Most of the cast are better known as TV actors and it's amazing how popular this film has made them all. But first the plot:-
This starts by a look at the impressive steel ... Read review
OvertakingJurassic Parkas the UK's biggest box office attraction of 1998, and winning one ... more
of its four Academy Award nominations,The Full Montywas the surprise world-wide smash of the year, it's unexpected success reflecting the underdog inspiring messa...
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OvertakingJurassic Parkas the UK's biggest box office attraction of 1998, and winning one ... more
of its four Academy Award nominations,The Full Montywas the surprise world-wide smash of the year, it's unexpected success reflecting the underdog inspiring messa...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Dole queue Job Club domestic discord - the world is falling apart for six unemployed ... more
Sheffield steelworkers. But one of them has had enough. Determined to beat the system Gaz (Carlyle) hatches a plan that will make him and his friends serious rich -...
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Endura Full Monty Glove. Gloves - MTB. Summer cycling gloves - or mitts - are designed ... more
to support and protect your hands. The palms are usually padded to help stop your hands from going numb while riding. If your riding position puts a lot of weight on your hands, look for mitts wi ....
Your day will include driving at least 4 Military Vehicles, plus a selection of other ... more
military related exercises. You will learn to fire a Flintlock Musket and a 17th century Mortar - then pit your new found skills against the other contestants. Attend a briefing about modern terrorism and then compete at SAS skills in the woods. The Full Monty Day's winner gets the chance to balance a 56ton Chieftain Main Battle Tank on top of a family saloon car! Life will never be the same again! Location: Northamptonshire (Midlands) Agenda: Your voucher is valid for 10 months. Your day will begin at 9:00am and finish at 6:30pm. It is recommended that you bring clothing with you that you are happy to get dirty and wet. Boots or stout footwear are a must. Where the activity demands it, you will be provided with a safety helmet and suitable coveralls (if necessary goggles and gloves). Lunch is provided with refreshments served throughout the day.
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: extremely funny British film Disadvantages: didn't ever get to see the full monty
...film has got to be the one that always cheers me up whenever I'm feeling a bit down and that's surprising as I'm not usually a big fan of British comedies these days but then this is Northern humour - the real belly laughing kind - and not the usual Hugh Grant style that kind of leaves me feeling cheated. I first went to see it at the cinema when it came out in 1997 with my mum and a workmate and spent so much time laughing at my mate laughing we ... ...it finished. I got the feeling that it wasn't just us either as everyone seemed to be buzzing excitedly about the film when we came out and I didn't hear one complaint about it at all - something quite unusual as there is usually at least one person who finds fault with something.
It's set in Sheffield and directed by Peter Cattaneo who also directed the Ruby Wax comedy series The Full Wax. Most of the cast are better known as TV actors ... more
This film has got to be the one that always cheers me up whenever I'm feeling a bit down and that's surprising as I'm not usually a big fan of British comedies these days but then this is Northern humour - the real belly laughing kind - and not the usual Hugh Grant style that kind of leaves me feeling cheated. I first went to see it at the cinema when it came out in 1997 with my mum and a workmate and spent so much time laughing at my mate laughing we ended up with tears running down our faces by the end. It had that really feel good ending to it and we were on quite a high when it finished. I got the feeling that it wasn't just us either as everyone seemed to be buzzing excitedly about the film when we came out and I didn't hear one complaint about it at all - something quite unusual as there is usually at least one person who finds fault with something.
It's set in Sheffield and directed by Peter Cattaneo who also directed the Ruby Wax comedy series The Full Wax. Most of the cast are better known as TV actors and it's amazing how popular this film has made them all. But first the plot:-
This starts by a look at the impressive steel industry in Sheffield but very quickly moves forward 25 years to a time when the industry dies and unemployment has taken over. When the 2 main characters, Gaz and Dave, realise that a male strip show is taking place down the local pub they are initially disgusted but at the same time intrigued and when they see how popular the guys are in the show they decide it may be a way of making some money as well as having a laugh and getting loads of attention from the women there. Meeting up with Lomper who is a bugle playing security guard in the abandoned steelworks, when they save him from death they decide they need some help as they have 2 problems and they are quite big ones - they can't dance and they aren't exactly superstud material with Gaz's scrawny frame and Dave's pot belly. They also realise they need to find other members to make it work and hold an audition session to find the other members. Included in this session is a really funny spot by Bruce Jones (known to millions as the lovable rogue Les Battersby in Coronation Street) bless him, he tries his best but gives up half way through and as well as being remarkably funny it is heart rendering as he realises he can't even take his clothes off properly. Eventually though they get their team together and the fun and games commence as they try to keep their act a secret as they start rehearsing and get their costumes organised. The big night finally arrives but will they all go through with it and will they go The Full Monty?
The characters are all very down to earth normal blokes living normal lives and I think that's why I have warmed so much to this film as it certainly has nothing to do with the naked bodies. Fellas, don't be put off with with this thought either as the comedy will definately keep you amused. Each one has special qualities and as well as a lot of laughter there are also a few poignant moments as we see each of their personal struggles revealed as well as their bodies as time goes on.
The main characters are:-
Gaz - The leader of the bunch who badly needs money to fight for joint custody of his son. Bit of a lad and a scammer but underneath all he really wants is to be part of his son's life although his ex disagrees and thinks he is a bad influence. The relationship between father and son is really at the forefront of this film and we are reminded of how embarrassment can be overcome when there is genuine love there.
Played by Robert Carlyle who is well known for many film roles including Begbie in Trainspotting and also tv appearances like Cracker way back in 1994 where he played a psychotic killer spendidly and the totally different character of Hamish MacBeth where he played a small town cop. I think that Cracker was the first thing I ever saw him in but had forgotten until recently when the series was re-run on ITV3. Even then it was obvious he would go far and is about to star in a new drama called Class of '76, something I am dying to see as I am quite a fan of Mr Carlyle. He plays the character of Gaz really well and his delivery of the comedy lines is to perfection which is brought to the forefront in one of my many favourite scenes where along with Dave he has saved Lomper from committing suicide in his car and are discussing ways which would be best for this deed to be done. When Dave suggests drowning and Lomper replies he cannot swim, Gaz adds, 'Well you don't have to f**king swim, you divvy, that's the whole point. God you're not very keen are you?' I know this shouldn't really be laughed at but the way they are so down to earth about the whole thing is just hilarious.
Dave - This is Gaz's best mate and is a bit on the chubby side which makes him depressed because as well as having no job things aren't exactly going great with his wife Jean, in the bedroom department and he is stunned to find she wants to go watch the male strippers as this gives his pride a battering. He can't understand why she would still love him as he feels he is a total failure. This character doubts himself all the way and painfully makes fun of himself to the other members of the team. His funniest scene has to be in the shed where he tries his own form of bodywrap to help lose a few pounds with a mars bar in hand. We see that confidence fall and rise as the film goes on and his wife supports him throughout.
Mark Addy is great in this emotional role where he stumbles his way through life, never confident and always expecting the worst. Better known for tv appearances before this film was made he was DC Gary Boyle in The Thin Blue Line and also appeared in an early episode of Heartbeat. Since then however his film career has taken off and was the fantastic Roland in A Knights Tale and Fred Flintstone in Viva Rock Vegas. He shows here what a truly magnificent actor he is playing comedy as well as tragedy with equal vigour.
Lomper doesn't have life easy and as well as working as a security guard he has to look after his sick mother and with no friends feels there is only one way out. However, finding Dave and Gaz in the most unlikely of circumstances, he sees that life isn't all that bad when you have mates there to help out. They get him back into the real world and encourage him to join in their venture to be successful strippers. He goes on an amazing personal journey as he finds his true self.
Steve Huison who plays Lomper puts on a good performance here as the no-hoper who can't even manage to commit suicide correctly. He is a face you will probably recognise but not be able to place as he has had many one off roles in programs such as City Central, Peak Practice and Wire in The Blood. He has even been in episodes of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
Gerald is the ex-foreman who still likes to believe he is better than all the rest but he has a couple of secrets - he attends ballroom dancing and he hasn't told his wife Linda that he has been out of work for 6 months. His worries are that she is continuing to spend heavily on the credit cards and he has no way to pay them off. Desperate to earn some money he agrees to help out the gang find a couple of other members and put together a dance routine for them.
Tom Wilkinson has had plenty of acting experience and this goes back many years and includes roles in the 1st Prime Suspect and an episode of Inspector Morse. His later accolades include playing Hugh Fennyman in Shakespear in Love and the recent box office success Batman Begins where he plays Carmine Falcone. Here we go from disliking his character at the beginning to really feeling for the situation he has got himself into as he realises that he is getting on a bit and isn't as employable as younger guys might be. Another good performance here.
Horse is the man who was a great dancer in his time and shows off at the audition with The Bump, The Stomp, The Bus Stop and wait for it, he even knows the Funky Chicken. He can't really breakdance anymore though as he has a dodgy hip and is is on the older side. The rest of the guys think that because he is known as 'Horse' that this is due to his size. We start to wonder though when he is the first to get concerned over the promise to go 'the full monty' at the show.
Paul Barber is hilarious as the older guy trying to relive his youth. Older fans will recognise him as Scotty in Boys from the Blackstuff or Denzil in Only Fool and Horses. He also starred alongside Robert Carlyle in The 51st State.
The last of the team is Guy, otherwise known as The Lunchbox for his rather well endowed physique. When asked what he can contribute to the group because he can't sing, dance or 'walk up the wall' (very funny) he instantly drops his trousers and he is made a member straightaway. A bit of a hit with the ladies and the only one of the gang who actually has a decent body we get a bit of a twist later on in the film when we find out there is more to him than meets the eye, but I won't give it away for any who haven't seen this.
Hugo Speers, who plays Guy, is another actor better known on tv with appearances in The Bill and Men Behaving Badly. He had a major role in the series Hearts and Bones with Dervla Kirwin and has recently been seen in the unmissable Messiah - The Harrowing alongside Ken Stott. He has also been busy in the film industry recently with a part in The Interpreter which starred Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn. Another versatile actor this role as Lunchbox probably doesn't make use of his full potential.
Nathan is Gaz's son and is very confused and angry as well as being sad that his dad is no longer able to be a bigger part of his life. Living with his mum and her new well off bloke he is caught in a custody battle which concerns money - his dad has none - and he hates the fact they cannot do other normal father and son things that involve spending money. He is embarrassed to start off with that his dad would want to be a stripper but sees that he is doing it for him and supports him all the way, giving him encouragement just when he needs it most.
William Snape who plays Nathan did a great job considering he was only 12 when this was made in 1997. The character's inward struggle is well portrayed and his loyalty to his father is very touching as he is dragged off at one point by his mother and her new partner. This young actor hasn't had many other appearances but has played in Emmerdale and a couple of episodes of Heartbeat 5 years apart playing different characters.
Jean is the understanding wife who longs to have her husband back to the way he used to be, full of fun and love. Whilst Dave thinks she may cheat on him, she is fiercely loyal to him and tries to support him any way she can, even by trying to get him a job. We see her struggle to come to terms with what she thinks may be the end of their marriage and delight at her support when he feels that all hope has gone.
Played by the brilliant Lesley Sharp, Jean is shown to be the devoted wife every man dreams of having by his side and she shows how painful it is to see her man go through tough times. Lesley has been seen in many productions over the years and has remarkably changed since her early appearance in the film Rita Sue and Bob Too. Since then she has been in many successful tv dramas including Clocking Off, Daylight Robbery and more recently the harrowing tale Born With Two Mothers which featured a mix up at a fertility clinic with an embryo being transplanted back into the wrong woman. She is also starring in the new ITV drama Afterlife at the moment and after watching the first episode on Saturday past I'm dying to see the next one. She seems to add a bit of magic in whatever she does and is in my opinion one of the best actresses around and perfect for her role as Jean.
It is hard to single out favourite parts of this film as there are so many good bits and these vary from the hilariously funny scenes like when they watch Flashdance to see how to create a dance sequence and Dave is more concerned about the fact she can't weld very well, to the more serious scenes where Gaz is in real danger of not seeing his son again but I think it has to be near the start of the film when stranded in the middle of a canal on top of a floating car a bloke walking his dog passes and seeing Gaz and Dave balancing shouts out 'Aw Right' and Gaz calmly replies 'Not So Bad'. The simplistic comedy just sets the rest of the film up so you know you're going to be in for a treat.
The music is great too with classics like You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate which is used when Gaz first tries out his stripping performance and You Can Leave Your Hat On by Tom Jones which is the music used at their actual performance. Other tracks include Hot Stuff by Donna Summer, the music played in the Job Centre which prompts a very funny scene and The Stripper which I guess had to be included somewhere.
There is some swearing in this film but it is all in the context of the film and not just for the sake of it so I don't find it offensive and it is a cert. 15 because of this.
There aren't many films which I can honestly say that all the actors have done a good job as you do usually have a few weaks links but generally speaking these are all excellent and give the performances their all.
If you haven't seen this film then all I can say is WHY NOT??? Especially since you can get it for a fiver at Choices just now. The soundtrack is really worth buying too and Tesco's have it for under £7 if you like the music featured.
Advantages: Great cast, excellent storylines, good comedy. Disadvantages: Well whoever doesnt like comedies if there are any.
...**
As The Full Monty was on channel 4 last night I decided to do a quick review about it. The Full Monty released in 1997 was a risk film. It was never thought to be very successful when being made. Director Peter Caltaneo was not a highly known film director and before this film worked more on TV series than films. I first saw the film when it came out on DVD and we rented it from the video shop. As we liked it so much we brought it on VHS. ~ Info ... ...~ Plot ~ The town of Sheffield, England where the major Steel Production has been sunk and hundreds of men lost their jobs. This includes friends Gary and Dave who have been working in Steel for over 10 years. They are both very down to earth men who just want to make some money. Gary or 'Gaz' as his friends call him is a divorced lonely man who is in battle to keep seeing his son Nathan with his ex wife and her new partner. Gary although does not ...
blackmagicstar4 13.11.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Full Monty (DVD)
Advantages: A very funny British Comedy Disadvantages: Not a lot
...lost his job due to the closure of the Sheffield Steel works, jack-the-lad Gaz (Robert Carlyle) is struggling to find the money to pay his ex-wife her child support payments. After witnessing the phenomenal success of the famous stripping act, The Chippendales, at a local club, he devises a plan to form his own stripping act in the search of some quick, easy money. With the help of his best friend Dave (Mark Addy), a slightly robust chap who is suffering ... ...tuning their stripping skills with the aid of some other misfit friends.
►►► Opinion
Out of the thousands of films I have watched, there are very few which I could honestly say I could watch every week without getting tired of them. One of these is "The Full Monty", a low budget Brit flick from 1997, which despite some significant flaws is one of the most popular films to have been made in Britain in the last 10 years. I say significant ...
christianfilmcritic 02.04.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Full Monty (DVD)
Advantages: A sure fire remedy to cure the "blues" Disadvantages: Not a thing
...feeling a bit down in the dumps and fed up with life in general, there’s one film in my video collection that I can be sure will lift the dark clouds of depression, and leave me smiling at all the ups and downs and vagaries of life once again.
It’s the 1997 movie “The Full Monty”, from director Peter Cattaneo, about the hair brained scheme thought up by an out of work and down on his luck working class lad from Sheffield ... ...fortune.
~ ~ The opening scene is one of the most unusual I have ever seen in a commercial movie, and is both funny and poignant at the same time.
The director uses an actual piece of old documentary footage from the early 1970’s, promoting Sheffield as an up and coming and prosperous city with full employment and a pleasant environment in which to raise a family.
This may well have been true at the time, but the film then skips immediately ...
the_mad_cabbie 25.05.2001 (16.04.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Full Monty (DVD)
Advantages: Great British comedy/drama Disadvantages: None
...there's still nothing worth watching. The day I'm going to have to give in and get some more channels has finally come. In desperation, I raided my mum's old videos and came up with this. It is hard to believe that this film has now been around for ten years, but I was delighted to find it is just as good, if not better, than it was the first time I watched it. What a shame there aren't more films around like this.
Gaz and Dave have lost their jobs ... ...scrounge a living by stealing the odd girder to sell on, but times are getting desperate. Gaz's ex-wife is applying for sole custody of their child, Nathan, because Gaz can't afford to make the monthly maintenance payments; something has to change. To make matters worse, the Chippendales come to town and the local women are attending in hordes. Then Gaz has an idea. Why not create their own band of strippers? They manage to collect another four men ...
sunmeilan 31.12.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Full Monty (DVD)
Advantages: Very funny, touching and honest human characters Disadvantages: No sequel!
...has to be one of the best ever British made productions with a fine cast, wonderful humour and great storyline, and just dripping with pathos.
The film is a black comedy directed by Peter Cattaneo and received 4 Oscar nominations. It is set in Sheffield and follows the antics of a group of six redundant Sheffield steel workers, eager to find a way to earn some much needed extra cash. Each of the characters has his own particular set of problems ... ...unsuccessful and permanent members of the ‘Job Club’, each of the men feels he has lost a little of his dignity, and male pride is at stake. Robert Carlyle is the film’s main star (you may remember him from Hamish MacBeth on TV and the film Trainspotting) and plays the role of Gaz. Divorced from his wife, and desperately wanting to get closer to and support his young son, it is he who comes up with the idea that the guys should ...
Squiggles 24.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Full Monty (DVD)
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Advantages: great british film Disadvantages: none
I had a brilliant evening in last night, transported back to 1997 and one of my favourite all time films - The FullMonty - which I have recently acquired on DVD.
I don't suppose that there are many people who do not know a little about the storyline in The FullMonty. However, I will just give a brief synopsis. The story is set in Sheffield in the mid 90s. Once a thriving centre of the steel industry, now there is mass unemployment. The central character is Gary (played by Robert Carlyle) who is desperate to make a bit of money so he can pay the maintainance arrears for his son Nathan, and therefore carry on seeing him.
Gary is always on the lookout for one scam or another, most of which don't get him anywhere, until he stumbles across the idea of male stripping! Along with his friend Dave (played briliantly by Mark Addy) they set ...
Advantages: Fantastic Film,now a 2 disc Special Additions Disadvantages: None
The story begins meeting two unemployed steel workers,on there way to the Job Centre.
Gaz (Robert Carlyle and his best mate,Dave (Mark Addy),are always trying to come up with ways to make extra money,as Jobs are hard to come by in Sheffield,since the closure of the Steel Factory.
Gaz is a very sarcastic character,so when he arrives at the job club,he cAnnot resist winding up his old factory supervisor Gerald (Tom Wilkinson),about always being at the job club dressed in a suit and tie.
As Gaz and Dave leave the job club,they see a poster advertising that the Chippendales are performing at there local social club that weekend.
Then suddenly it hits Gaz,when he see`s the ticket prices.Why not go one step further and get a group together to go The FullMonty.
He tells Dave his plan,and reluctantly Dave agrees,but is extremely ...
Advantages: Great chemistry between Chan and Tucker. Ridiculously entertaining. Disadvantages: About as substantial as...(Insert your own Chinese food joke here)
quite intense and well choreographed, but seems very 'Jackie-Lite' to anyone who has seen Chan's Hong Kong offerings. Chan stumbles with his English, and Tucker is remarkably bearable, considering how unbearable he usually is! Tom Wilkinson crops up as one of the nominal bad guys, but no matter how much he scowls, he can't be taken seriously after 'The FullMonty'.
The DVD features your usual scene selection and out-takes. The forty minute 'Behind the Scenes' documentary is especially worthy of a viewing. 'Rush Hour' might seem to trivial a movie to warrant a behind the scenes documentary, but you'd be surprised. One benefit of this is it brings Brett Ratner, the director to the fore. You might expect a director of a straightforward action comedy to be just there to point the camera. But what comes across is Ratner's enthusiasm ...
Plissken 08.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Rush Hour (DVD)
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