Review of 'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie'

The two affable though incredibly inept and frequently inebriated fashionistas Edina (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) are still living a life filled with booze and drugs much to the consternation of Edina's daughter Saffy (Julia Sawalha) now living with them along with her teenage daughter Jane (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) and Edina's mother (June Whitfield). Edina and Patsy are determined to bring some fun into Jane's life by encouraging her to follow in their footsteps away from her straight-laced mother. When Edina's marketing agency puts on a show she accidentally ends up knocking fashion icon Kate Moss into the Thames. With Moss presumed drowned Edina and Patsy are hounded by the world's press assembled at the door of their mansion in London. Running short of money they have the idea of pursuing a former wealthy lover of Patsy who is living in France…surely he can get them out of this mess?

An amusing, if not entirely “fabulous” outing of the two hapless glitterati wannabees Patsy and Edina with few, if any, moral scruples that features amusing cameos from the modern day great and the good of fashion and film. It is great to see familiar faces from the original television series who provide wonderful foils to the sheer recklessness of the pair. Saffy is still getting upset with the two, the grandmother is continuing to be oblivious to, well, everything, Edina's long-suffering assistant Bubble (Jane Horrocks) is still wearing outlandish outfits and being incredibly dim…In a way this is all very amusing but mostly it is more of the same with just a bigger budget and canvas for the two too cavort across. It is mostly amusing but is often tedious as it continually pokes at the icons our society holds in such esteem (fair play to them though, they all go along with it making it quite fun).

The story is simple. Not much more for me to say. Surely, you are not watching this for any story? It is just hear to put the two into comedic situations which it does a reasonable job at. For example, a scene towards the end of the film sees the two of them crammed into a small tuk-tuk slowly sinking in a pool while having a “serious” conversation…

I can't see the film being of interest to anyone excepts those that were fans of the original series, Jennifer Saunders or the fashion industry. Frankly, this film is simply silly but, perhaps, that is what makes it so fun? Stow any sense of morality away (no, seriously!) and sit down for a bit of a giggle, but don't look too hard at it as there is not much else to see.

Rating: “A bit better than average”

Review Date: 2019-01-01

Directed by: Mandie Fletcher

Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Year: 2016

Length: 91 minutes

Genre: Comedy

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2112096/