Absolutely Fabulous Review by Lisa Johnson Mandell   @HomeInHollywood

Sweetie Darlings, if you don’t mind being called by that unique term of endearment, and if, in fact, it elicits fits of giggles and sends you running to the fridge for some bolly (champagne), you’re going to love this film. If you’ve spent any time in Great Britain during the past 20 years, you’ll also love this film. If you’ve never watched the British sitcom of the same name that ran erratically from 1992 to 2012, you’re going to be totally lost, but you might find Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, mildly amusing.

The plot, as if it matters, finds our giddy girls Eddy and Patsy being cut off financially, then accidentally knocking Kate Moss into the River Thames. This losing combination of events sends them fleeing for their fortunes to the south of France. Yes, they snort coke and swill champagne all along the way, and yes, they wear outrageous fashions that are flamboyant characters in their own rights. This is what we’ve come to know and love from our ersatz heroines. What’s not expected is how good Patsy looks as a man, and how she actually grows just a teeny, tiny bit of a conscience.

Absolutely Fabulous Frankie Feldman adores the Ab Fab hat the Fox Searchlight team sent him.

Still, like the actresses themselves (Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley) the film does feel a bit long in the tooth. Pacing is extremely uneven, which perhaps was intentional because it works so well with the long established schtick. If it feels like a strand of sloppy skits, it’s supposed to, my dear–that’s part of its charm.

Most Americans will not appreciate the constellation of British celebrity cameos, although they can’t help but note that Stella McCartney looks great, and Kate Moss doesn’t. Everyone, however, can appreciate the brief appearance by Jon Hamm. He’s the perfect American ambassador to the Ab Fab set.

I think that personally, I’m not insider Brit enough to truly adore this film, but I do appreciate the effort. To Patsy and Eddy I say, “Well done you!” And well done to the publicity team who sent Frankie Feldman the Make America Fabulous Again hat.

Rated R

1 Hour, 26 Minutes

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ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS Review – Fab or Flub?

by Lisa Johnson Mandell