The Full Monty (1997)

"The Full Monty" was a sleeper comedy hit on both sides of the Atlantic. A British production, its title (slang for male nudity) was lost in translation in America, but its optimistic mood and entertaining story premise certainly wasn't. The film received three major Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Director (Peter Cattaneo) and Best Original Screenplay (Simon Beaufoy). While those coveted statues went to formula Hollywood blockbusters ("Titanic", "Good Will Hunting"), the fact that a lesser budget British comedy would even receive such nominations is very impressive.

The film begins with a mock documentary short from a previous generation, extolling the virtues of Sheffield's steel factories. This contrasts sharply with the shots of a desolate factory that follows. It has closed, and the workers are six months unemployed, living on the dole. Gaz (Robert Carlyle, formerly best known as Begbie in "Trainspotting") can't meet his child support payments, and is losing visitation rights to young Nathan (William Snape). His best friend is Dave (Mark Addy), whose marriage is troubled by his fretting over his weight. A troupe of Chippendale dancers comes to town and does smashing business. Gaz and Dave join forces with their taciturn former boss (Tom Wilkison) and several other unemployed workers (Steve Huison, Paul Barber, Hugo Speer) to have a go at male stripping as well. The motley crew, alternately middle-aged, goofy-looking, underweight and overweight, have laughable prospects, but receive notoriety after being arrested at a rehearsal.

"The Full Monty" generally received good but not great reviews here in the States. Common criticisms include a homoerotic scene (which is too short to have any substantial impact on the film's grade), the deceptive simplicity of the plot (which has underlying social commentary on the inadequacy that working class men feel when an industrial economy founders), and what could have been a one-joke film in lesser hands. That is, average guys thinking they're Chippendale dancers.

But the would-be strippers are well aware of their physical limitations, and one of film's themes is that a man's value is not measured solely by his approximation to chiseled perfection. They pack the house not because they're buff, or even because they're going 'the full monty'. The success of the show comes from the friends and family that want to see them perform. The idea of becoming erotic dancers, apart from its comedic and entertainment value, also provides both an escape and a solution to their feelings of desperation and helplessness. Developing a male stripper routine may not be the ideal business venture, but it sure beats idling away days on the dole, and perhaps that initiative is partly why the ladies are applauding.

"The Full Monty" was the first feature film for both director and writer, a combination that often leads to fresh and original filmmaking. Such is the case here, despite the surface similarity of the film to a simple base comedy. Enabling close captioning is recommended, to help with the slang and accents. (80/100)