The Full Monty (DVD)

...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. 

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