Review of The Full Monty (1997) by Raji K — 04 Nov 2016

Robert Carlyle and Tom Wilkinson lead the cast in the British smash comedy, The Fully Monty. The story is set in Sheffield England which is coming off a major depression after a steel boom. The town's economy has left the many people out of work including Gaz (Carlyle). He and his friends all look for jobs and his former boss Gerald (Wilkinson) is in the same boat. When the custody for his son becomes in jeopardy Gaz finds himself desperate for money. He notices hundreds of women paying to see a Chippendale's show and decides this is only chance.

Gaz begins recruiting his friends who are by in no means stripper shape. His friends consist of Dave (Mark Addy) who is overweight, Barry (Paul Butterworth) who is scrawny, and he eventually recruits Gerald who is a bit past his prime. As a sore lot, they begin recruiting others which sets off the comedic pacing of the film. Much of the film's comedic output relies on scenes of regular Joes trying to pull of being sexy.

Where the Full Monty really shines is with its characters. All of the characters are relatable. You root for Gaz who is trying to do everything for his son. Everyone has come across the confidence issues of not feeling attractive as Dave struggles with. Gerald is a character that has too much pride and does not even tell his lover that he is out of work. The film does not have an epic story, but is more about circumstances. Very few comedies try and balance the reality of depression, unemployment, and character flaws. As a comedy, those who enjoy the awkward physical comedy of men trying to be sexy will find this film far more funny and perhaps endearing. This raw combination led to the film's nomination for an Oscar for best picture. The Full Monty is by no means one of my favorite films, but it does have all the elements of a solid picture. The story has moments of doubt, there is a momentum, setback, and of course climax all with realistic and relatable characters.

-11.4.2016.