Sheffield, England, once hailed as the “City of Steel,” has fallen on tough times. The steelworks are closed, and thousands of men are unemployed. Best friends Gaz (Carlyle) and Dave (Mark Addy) sit faithfully at the unemployment bureau, hoping for the chance at work and a return of income. When the two happen upon a showing of the Chippendale dancers and see the house packed with women, Gaz decides they should try a similar act.
Gaz has a more desperate reason for needing cash – he is on the verge of losing joint custody of his son and can’t pay the court fees to oppose his ex-wife’s petition. He finally convinces Dave to help him recruit a few more ‘dancers,’ and they schedule a one night only appearance where they promise to give their audience their money’s worth by going “the full monty” – that is, totally nude.
Open for Auditions
On their way home one evening, Gaz and Dave run across Lomper, who is gay, still living with his mother, and suicidal. After thwarting Lomper’s attempt to kill himself, the two friends talk Lomper into joining their dance crew. The fourth member of the group comes in the form of Gerald, their former supervisor, who doesn’t have the courage to tell his wife he’s been out of work for six months.
Holding auditions in the abandoned steelworks that was once their employment venue, the four become six when Horse, an aging but competent dancer, and Guy, a strapping youth who once did handyman work for Gerald, meet their qualifications – and then some. Over the next few weeks, they come up with a passable routine and acquire police costumes (complete with red leather thongs).
Word spreads about what the boys are planning, the anticipation builds, and ticket sales go through the roof. Suddenly the prospect of going the full monty spooks some of the group’s members, especially Dave, who sees himself as nothing more than overweight and undesirable. When his luck turns and he lands a job as a security guard for a supermarket, he decides he’s not going to perform, but Gaz pleads with him to stay.
Humor and Heart
This sleeper hit, which was nominated for four Oscars (including Best Director, Best Picture and Best Writing – Original Screenplay) and won one (Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score), has its hilarious moments. One of the most memorable is a scene in which four of the men are standing on the unemployment line, and the song they’ve been practicing their routine to comes on the radio speakers.
But the film also has a tremendous amount of heart. As the day of their performance looms closer, life trudges on for the six men, who except for Horse haven’t told their families what they’re up to. Dave’s wife begins to suspect he’s having an affair, Gaz’s son is at first horrified at the prospect but then becomes his dad’s biggest supporter, and Gerald’s wife finally finds out they have no income when all their furniture is repossessed.
It’s a combination that works, and works well. While the underlying economic devastation of the steelworks shutdown and the consequences on its workers makes The Full Monty a heartfelt drama about self-acceptance, initiative and perseverance, the film’s infusion of humor and levity into this ostensibly somber backdrop makes it both irresistibly funny and ultimately inspiring.
- Starring Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy
- Fox Searchlight Pictures, 1997
- Directed by: Peter Cattaneo (who won 14 awards for this film internationally)
- Rated: R for language and some nudity (okay for ages 15+)
- Running time: 95 minutes
- Available on DVD (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
 |
 |
