The Full Monty (1997)

Absolutely the worst movie.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

The dialogue is damn funny. The relationships between the six out-of-work steel workers forming a male stripping act to make money are great. "Hurry up, ya fat bastard." It's a motivational story. The camera-work is done well.The music suits the mood. The song Hot Stuff is featured. Another movie I like with this song is the 2015 movie The Martian featuring Matt Damon.I'd recommend it to anyone. It's entertaining considering the idea is a group of amateur male strippers.

The Full Monty (1997): Dir: Peter Cattaneo / Cast: Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Barber, Steve Huison: Hilarious British comedy about self outlook and going beyond goal or initial challenge. What makes the film so great is its casting of actors who are clearly not models. Robert Carlyle struggles for visitation rights with his son. Mark Addy plays a security guard worried about his weight. Tom Wilkinson lost everything to taxes and is harassed into giving dance lessons. Paul Barber might have once been a great dancer. After endless days at the job bank Carlyle suggests a one night strip tease, which leads to side-splitting mayhem. Great concept with an inspiring take on the average male but director Peter Cattaneo does careful cutting. Carlyle is fantastic in a role that is so different from his role in Trainspotting. Addy upholds the overweight people with a wife who looks beyond. Wilkinson loses his marriage when taxes become unbearable but he ultimately pulls everything together. Barber has back problems but can dance better than any of them. Steve Huison plays another member of the group and his mother passes away at one point. This is one film to cheer for but it also presents perhaps the best comedy situations in a film the whole year. No one need be ashamed of their physical self after these guys deliver the full monty. Score: 9 / 10

I came across a VHS tape of 'The Full Monty' at a yard sale for 50 cents, and am I glad I bought it! Had never heard of it but was immediately interested as some of my family came from that part of England. I'd read every Catherine Cookson book in print so was familiar with the accent and dialect. What a terrific ensemble cast, great soundtrack which amazed me as I normally HATE disco. I discovered Cockney Rebel in the wonderful football scene, and Randy Newman actually wrote You Can Leave Your Hat On, which I'd always assumed was by Tom Jones. I especially love the part where they're trying to "get us kit off" at Gerald's home when the Repo Men show up and panic at the sight of a bunch of men in their underwear! The final scene is tastefully, artistically, and humorously done. I enjoyed it so much I checked out Robert Carlyle as Hamish MacBeth, the film versions of M.C. Beaton's books. Also great, shown on PBS in the States.

There are very few films these days that make me laugh out loud but this one managed it six or seven times! Having spent most of my adult life in the north of England, I find the humour in this one quite refreshing. It's not all fun and games though, there is quite a lot of drama to be found here and it's this element that gives the humour more bite. Great performances all round with (for me), Tom Wilkinson standing out, although they were all praiseworthy. Over all, a comedy set against the gritty reality of unemployment and all that brings. If, like me, you've been avoiding this one, don't put it off any longer, you can thank me later!SteelMonster's verdict: HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDMy score: 8.7/10You can find an expanded version of this review on my blog: Thoughts of a SteelMonster.