This film was just shown on BBC1 in honour of its 20th anniversary of release, and it deserves it. It's charming, very funny, touching, and speaks to the reality of being unemployed with little chance of employment in a depressed economy. It should be soul-destroying, yet these men keep trying and, ultimately, succeed.*big spoiler warning* What I love most is that they don't suddenly turn into the world's best dancers/strippers. That's not what it's all about. It's about friendship, fatherhood, marriage and unexpected love. Such a lovely film with a sensational soundtrack as a bonus. I seriously hope Hollywood won't try to turn it into a 'feel-good' movie with model-pretty actor/dancers. *shudder*The actors here are completely believable as ordinary, working class men just trying to survive. Robert Carlyle is, as always, amazing. Probably best known now as Rumplestiltskin in 'Once Upon a Time', his acting history is impeccable, as is his Yorkshire accent. Like David Tennant, another Scot, he is a chameleon. I look forward to seeing everything he does.

Absolutely love this film. The story line is excellent. I feel it helped me learn about the time they shut down the steel works and how people struggled for work. Loved the characters and personalities. Very British film, which I think is always the best. The film have very serious topics involved which makes the story feel so real. That is the sad and real side of story but comedy the overrides the seriousness making it a funny and true film. I would definitely recommend this for friend. This is a good film for cheering yourself up and not feeling as alone in the world when you are struggling with life in the UK.

The first time I watched the DVD I rated it a 9, but now, on a second look, I got a bit bored. But the Bonus Features on the 2-DVD package were good, especially the language lady, Laura Wright, who told us about the changes that Fox asked for coz they thought American audiences wouldn't understand the English idiom. Like "top"? and "works", and DIY? and "lassie"? and "twat"? But strangely, no mention is made of the phrase "There's none so queer as folk" ? My guess is that no one could come up with an explanation? Yet just about everyone else in the English speaking world would know it simply means... "Some people are strange" (we all would have learned it from Coronation Street on TV?) My guess is that that phrase and the scene were simply deleted from the US release.The commentaries by the director and another by the producer were awful. I got the impression that neither were actually watching the film, and were just babbling away? OK, Pasolini (producer) did at least mention Emily Woof who got four scenes for a total of about 3 minutes on screen. This is a boys or males film and the ladies hardly get a look in.The story is straight forward, factory workers made redundant, no job, no money, so... when they learn that the women of their lives are prepared to spend money on seeing a male strip-show, they decide to have a go too.It takes quite a bit of organising, they arrange a venue, they have to practise all the actions, get the right costumes, and then actually do it. - Something that most of us wouldn't do, no matter what? There are some touching scenes. The foreman, Gerald hasn't even told his wife he has no job. But she keeps spending, and the savings are disappearing. Gaz, (Robert Carlyle) is behind in the maintenance payments to his ex-wife,(Emily Woof) others are depressed and suicidal.The acting is great and there are quite a few quotable lines, but it is still a bit slow, so I've gone down to a 7.

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.