I was not expecting to like this film at all - I don't think I am the target audience whatsoever so I was very prepared to have negative things to say. However, I must take back all negative prejudgements - Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie is a really solid film with a lot of laughs and charm. I can't really tell you why it was necessary for this film to be made (other than jumping on the nostalgia bandwagon) but it certainly is a fun time. I thought it was refreshing to see a film that is targeted and will mostly be appreciated by British audiences - from the style of humour to the cameos, they will be most effective with British audiences by far.

 

So I would say the film has most of its funny moments during the first half and loses its way slightly towards the end. There were a couple laugh out loud moments during the film which are necessary for comedies but are usually lacking - the first occurred right at the beginning which involved a cat walk - I thought the reactions from the characters were what made this scene funny. Even though this was the very first scene, it was probably my favourite scene of the entire film. The comedy isn't as prominent in the second half - there are very random twists and turns that don't really make sense which kind of takes you out of the film (one of the characters pretending to be a man to marry a rich woman is an example). I do think the humour of this film will not appeal to those who are easily offended as some of the bigger jokes are to do with race and sexuality. However, this is a light-hearted film so it shouldn't be taken too seriously and these jokes aren't ongoing 'themes' - they are one-liners. Absolutely Fabulous definitely is very funny - even though it decreases in humour as it goes on.

 

The plot for Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie was almost non-existent. The basic premises is that the ladies accidently kill Kate Moss but the clearness of the plot disappears once this occurs. Are they trying to find Moss? Are they fleeing the country? - who knows what the plot was supposed to be. There are many plot holes - for example - why is a 13 year old able to drive a car? but this is such a light-hearted film that admittedly doesn't take itself seriously at all so I think it would be wrong to criticise it extremely seriously. I thought the editing of the film was pretty sloppy - some of the music felt like it just jumped it and the film just ended - there was no smooth finish, it just ended - I don't know whether that was a fault in the editing or the writing but I wasn't a fan of how it ended so quickly. Absolutely Fabulous doesn't really have a narrative but that can be forgiven as it is so likeable that you are happy to just enjoy the journey.

 

The performances from the leading duo were absolutely fabulous (had to get it in there). Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders are very likeable and very funny - I actually think their characters are pretty likeable - we all know someone like them. You can tell Saunders wrote this film as these characters are literally made for her and Lumley - fantastic! The fabulous duo are supported by a string of unexpected and hilarious cameos - some of my favourites were Rebel Wilson, Gwendoline Christie and Rylan Clark. You can literally spot a celeb in most scenes in this film! This is definitely the best use of 'OTT number of cameos' in a film I have seen since The Muppets. None of the cameos actually felt like they were just there for the pay cheque either - it felt like they were all there to be part of the party.

 

This film certainly isn't short of being absolutely fabulous - admittedly, it certainly isn't a great piece of film-making but it is an uplifting, light-hearted and charming film that the UK good do with right now. There are hints of British-ness that may make audiences proud to be British. Saunders and Lumley are fantastic and the cameos that pop up along the way are excellent. The humour starts off with a bang but is unfortunately unable to keep it to a high standard throughout. The editing and plot is poor but everything else is absolutely fabulous!

 

3 STARS

B-

 



 What did you think of ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: THE MOVIE? Did you feel uplifted after watching it? - COMMENT BELOW

 

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