The Full Monty
It's always hazardous to go to a movie that you've been told over and over is great. And I usually wait until a movie is in the cheapie theater before going to see it anyway. But it was Sunday afternoon, I had tired of walking around the city, and I didn't feel like going home. So I treated myself to a $9 movie. It was a bit of a toss-up between "Monty" and "She's So Lovely," but the latter looked like it could be stupid, and as much as I adore Sean Penn, I wanted a sure- fire fun movie.
I didn't regret my decision. I really enjoyed "The Full Monty." In a nutshell, it was about six guys who live in a steel mill town in England. The steel mill having closed months ago, these blokes are now unemployed, futiley searching, and pretty bummed out. They spend most of their days smoking cigarettes and thinking up new (and sometimes illegal) ways to make money.
Then, they get an idea. Chippendales had been in town, and all the women had paid good money to see it. Why couldn't they do the same? Sure, they weren't very good looking, didn't have great bodies, and they couldn't dance, but it was still worth a shot! They proceed to find others like them, set up a time and a place, and learn how to dance -- and strip. Hence, all the funny scenes you keep seeing on TV.
Although they threw in some warm and fuzzy father-son stuff, the strength of the movie is in the six men, who are learning something new, trying something different, and -- and I'm not being facetious -- liberating themselves. "The Full Monty" was about six men who weren't virile anymore finding their strength and courage. Plus, it was funny. Unfortunately, I had seen most of the funny scenes in previews and commercials, which kind of sucked, but there were other good moments and a couple of small plot twists that were an added bonus.
I give this a thumbs-up with the understanding that this is NOT the greatest movie of all time (it's such a mistake to say that about a movie to people who haven't seen it), but a nice, cute, touching little movie. There.
P.S. The expression "the full monty" means all the way, doing it all, go crazy. In this case, totally nekkid. In the buff. Wearing your birthday suit. Just FYI. Heh-heh.