Review of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016) by Leanne L — 09 Aug 2016

I really found this show to be a hoot in the 90s, then kinda forgot about it and haven't seen it for years; yet watching the movie brought me immediately back into Eddie (Jennifer Saunders) & Patsy's (Joanna Lumley) world of over the top glamour, name dropping, slap stick, and talent for living above ones means. Poor Saffy (Julia Sawalha) still must play the reverse role of parent to Eddie, her self-serving mother, and hold her own against Patsy, who despises Saffy almost as much as Saffy loathes her. Only now, Saffy has to also protect her daughter Lola (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) from falling into the clutches of these two boozy, ambitious, old glamour whores. Lola is bi-racial and at one point Eddie (her grandmother) leaves her in the South of France to join the hotel's housekeeping staff. This could be construed as terribly racist, in any other movie, but with Eddie & Patsy it's just the way they roll; they would have, and I think did, the same to Saffy when she was growing up. That's all part of the glee to Absolutely Fabulous the two of them only do what works for them, yet are strangely loyal to each other.

Some cameos include: Gwendoline Christie, Jon Hamm, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Joan Collins, Stella McCartney, Suki Waterhouse, Dame Edna, Emma Bunton, Jerry Hall, Poppy Delevingne, Chis Colfer and Rebel Wilson.

Bottom Line: The movie is what "Ab Fab" fans have been waiting for, without know we were waiting for it, at least that's how I feel ... I don't think the movie appeals to many who were not a fan of the 1990s British sitcom, which aired on cable in the US; but who cares, or as Edina and Patsy would say - "Piss off, sweetie darlings".