The Full Monty (1997)

Elevator Pitch: A group of out of work steelworkers in Sheffield get the idea of putting on a show as male strippers, after one of them has peeked in at a Chippendale type event for “women only”. Their personal problems hamper the potential performance, one is divorced and having problems with access to his son, another has not told his wife he is out of work, a third is suicidal, another overweight and so on. They have no proper facilites and no experience. Will they make the venue and will they actually carry out the “Full Monty” performance?

Content: Well, the guys do get their gear off, they drink beer and at one point there is a set up for possible homosexual activity. A lot of time spent in the Labour Exchange, and  for one reason or another in the abandoned steel works, and much time in the streets of Sheffield as they wander about. Some iconic scenes, particularly the queue in the labour exchange where they move to the rhythm of Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff, and a lot of other old pop songs, as well as some brass band music.

A View: This is a film of gritty British cityscapes within which some lovable characters struggle with life, all to the accompaniment of classic pop songs, and just a bit of brass band music. I have seen it a number of times, and was not really looking forward to another viewing, but off it went and again and I was once more caught up in it. I am making it an “ALMOST MUST SEE”, and if you have not seen it, make sure you find it and download it. Well worth the price.

Additional Info: It cost $3.5 million, and initially was to be sent straight to video by the studio, but after some additional scenes were shot they gave it a general release and it made $ 258 million.