T H E F U L L M O N T Y ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (1997) UK, 88 mins Directed by Peter Cattaneo Starring Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Addy, Paul Barber 5 Star Rating: * * * *
In Brief: Fun, enjoyable, amusing and touching…but maybe a tad over-rated.
THE FULL MONTY, I believe, has become the most successful British film of all time, surpassing FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL which previously held that distinction. To be honest, its success is perhaps a bit baffling -- I mean it certainly has a lot going for it (a lot more than its title or premise would seem to suggest) but it's not the type of film that seems to thrive in the Film industry nowadays. It's low-key, understated, with no real big-star names (perhaps excepting Robert Carlyle), no big action scenes, or no gimmicky special effects. Unfortunately, that's the kind of film that seems to be most popular these days, and low-key character pieces tend to slip by unnoticed, regardless of how good they are.
In a way, the success garnered by THE FULL MONTY is quite encouraging. It goes to show that we're capable of watching and enjoying something other than the brainless or violent mediocrity than generally tends to proliferate Hollywood. THE FULL MONTY is a quiet, rather unassuming character drama (touted as more of a comedy, I know) which has heart. Let's face it, though, based on its premise -- unemployed guys who decide to become strippers -- it doesn't exactly sound enthralling. If it hadn't been for its critical and commercial success, I very much doubt I'd have had the urge to go and see it.
But it takes a potentially iffy premise and builds on it, adding some emotional resonance and milking it for all the humour its worth. It has to be said that as a comedy, THE FULL MONTY isn't one of the funniest I've seen. The humour is very much understated, and whilst some may find this disappointing, it's still quite effective. However, the film's biggest triumph is the adept way it portrays an ensemble of interesting, three-dimensional and very human characters. It avoids lapsing into redundant sentimentality but still manages to be quietly touching. It touches upon some very real issues that affect real people, such as divorce, impotence, and unemployment. It looks at how we tend to value ourselves on the jobs we have and the money we make, and how losing that stability can shatter one's self esteem.
The film follows several blokes who have recently lost their jobs, and they decide to become male strippers. The justification is rather flimsy, but it's merely a plot device - the real gist of it is them reclaiming their sense of self-worth, realising that it's basically up to you whether you lose your sense of purpose or simply move on in life. That's a relevant, important message to get across, and I suspect that's why the film has struck a chord in so many people. It's a feel-good film, not too reliant on its slippery plot nor its humour as much as its undertones of optimism.
THE FULL MONTY boasts some charismatic performances by its solid cast, including Robert Carlyle, who gives his characteristically understated, yet compelling performance. Directing-wise it's certainly proficient, if perhaps lacking much visual flair. As far as production goes, well, it's not a film that required a huge budget, and all the more effective for it, being eloquent in its simplicity.
The more I think about this one, the more I like it. But it's not, as some suggest, one of the very best films ever made. It takes a good while to get going, and the plot itself is pretty thin. The humour, as I've noted, feels rather restrained, and as well-played and poignant as it is, the character drama often lacks the emotion to give it real punch. What makes THE FULL MONTY so enjoyable is, to a large extent, the reasoning behind the plot. The story's wonderfully optimistic, feel-good underpinnings are both inspiring and uplifting. And that more than overcomes the film's (few) shortcomings.
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