The Full Monty (2023– ) User Reviews

Thankfully no full Monty !

[tm-sheehan · 7/10 · 20 June 2023]

My Review - The Full Monty

My Rating 6.5 /10 Streaming on Disney

The original 1997 movie The Full Monty was just over 90 minutes long .

It was touching ,funny and packed full of great performances and very very entertaining.

The 2023 8 part series is 8 hours long has some touching and some funny moments and the same talented cast but in my view is drawn out and not nearly as entertaining.

I'm not sure why 26 years after the original movie we need to see the vibrant characters of The Original Full Monty in their declining years.

They are all back and a bit jaded and unhappy including Robert Carlyle as Gary "Gaz" Schofield ,Mark Addy as David "Dave" Horsfall, Lesley Sharp as Jean Horsfall, Hugo Speer as Guy ,Paul Barber as Barrington "Horse" Mitchell, Steve Huison as Lomper and Tom Wilkinson , who looks and sounds so unwell as Gerald Cooper .

We can at least thank our lucky stars that they do not perform a reprise of The Full Monty strip show in the series .

Of course there are some new characters son's daughters etc and the series is set in the Britain of today all though there's no mention really of current politics just the problems resulting from them including unemployment, homelessness teenage delinquency and the state of the Health system .

The plot line with Lomper and the racing pigeon I thought was just silly and took up far to much of the story .

I just got a little tired of the repetitive nature and predictability of the script by Simon Beaufoy who also wrote the wonderful original screenplay for the movie.

All the performances are good but in my opinion it's just a very average series and I hope it doesn't encourage follow on multi episode series of other great British movies like The Calendar Girls , Kinky Boots, Notting Hill or Brassed Off featuring the original casts years later let's just keep the memories of the original.

Nostalgic

[shep999 · 8/10 · 10 August 2023]

A strong eight out of ten from me.

If you're expecting The Full Monty Film to be carried on you'll be disappointed.

This focuses on the characters latter lives.

It's almost sad to see how they've all ages and the 'troubles' they are experiencing.

It certainly highlights some social issues.

A mixture of mild comedy and soap - similar to Sky's Brassic. Lots of silly antics but focussing on the real hardships being experienced in an area of deprivation.

Last episode whilst realistically unbelievable was perfectly executed and brought together the end of the series. I see another series is not guaranteed but would be welcomed. Perhaps with a little more comedy.

It's not exactly necessary, but it's enjoyable enough for what it is.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 6/10 · 29 December 2023]

'The Full Monty (2023)' is a sequel series to 'The Full Monty (1997)' that follows the cast of that movie as they navigate their daily lives. It doesn't focus on performing at a strip joint (there's only one nod towards the group's iconic stage show), instead spending its time charting the various stresses and struggles of these working class characters. It mixes family drama with social commentary, bouncing between its cast members so that they've pretty much all got at least one episode dedicated primarily to them (except for Tom Wilkinson, who kind of just sits there, and Hugo Speer, who only makes a handful of appearances). It takes quite a while to get into its groove, with a couple of notable dips here and there, but it eventually ends on a fairly strong note (even if the way it handles a certain significant element of its ending is notably strange). Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, Lesley Sharp, Paul Barber and Steve Huison all reprise their roles really well, and the writing typically does these legacy characters justice. They're joined by a few newcomers, the most notable perhaps being Miles Jupp, but these are given perhaps a bit too much attention considering they aren't really who we came to see. Still, everyone does what they need to do and they mostly do it well. It's not a great series - and it's not particularly necessary, either - but it's enjoyable enough for what it is and it has a couple of stronger episodes in its back half.

A triumphant return.....

[timothy-price-794-581328 · 9/10 · 20 June 2023]

Was not sure they could replicate the magic. They did. And returning twenty five years later, seeing how the guys were now, was better than I imagined. A mixture of laughs, pathos and heartbreak. The situation for the blue collar workers is still an almighty struggle by and large, and there is the same political tinge that things have not really got better up north, still largely ignored. The original cast obviously carry it, but new characters too, to flesh it out. And to cap it all, the backdrop of the Steel City, run down in places, beautiful backdrop though. All in all, really glad to revisit The Full Monty. Would certainly not object to some more.

Unlike the 1997 film.

[movie-fan1997 · 23 June 2023]

I really hoped that I would like this series, I really tried but I just could not get into it at all. I love the original film, however there seemed to be no correlation whatsoever with the series other than the characters, even then they seemed off and not the lovable rogues from 1997.

I get that Sheffield and the world has moved on, however this series just seems so off. Though I would not normally say it, pc has hit the series hard and too many things are just scrubbed out of the script making the story annoying and disinteresting.

The language in the script is also a real damper, the original film was cheeky and charming. The characters had banter with each other, made suggestive jokes and said innocent names for anatomy and so on. This is what made the film great, it was how people speak and communicate. Yes, there was also serious issues within the film, but they were perfectly balanced.

However, in this series none of the characters really swear, they can't really make jokes, or do anything for the matter. The best scenes come from the café where they address the PC brigade and interact with each other. There are occasional funny moments, but it is just overall not that funny otherwise. Instead it is just preachy and annoying.

I am also not saying it is right, but in the original film references were made to stealing from Asda and the old factories. Though a crime the stealing was just part of Gaz's lovable charm and part of his survival. In the new series, any reference to stealing is met with a long story about morals and full of consequences which drive certain characters plot lines. Instead it becomes a series

There are storylines which seem so off and annoying. As for the school settings, it is unnecessary. Is there not enough dramas set in schools? How many times have we seen the save the school narrative. How many times have we seen the narrative of the troubled kid suddenly finding a talent which can benefit the school? How is this different from Waterloo Road?

You can almost tell that Disney Plus and star made this based on this. If someone like channel 4 or Netflix made it, I suspect it would be a whole lot grittier, and edgier.

Overall, this and many other modern day comedies just aren't funny anymore. At least this and many other 90s comedies, manage to be inclusive, relevant and comment on the matters of the world whilst still being absolutely hilarious.

Don't ruin your memory of a great film

[robrhlphotographylee · 6/10 · 27 June 2023]

Imagine the original film. Now take out the story. Then take out the comedy. And this it what your left with.

There's no real running story throughout the whole of the series. Its almost Like an anthology of living in Sheffield. Each episode has its own very thin plot. Each one as depressing as the last.

Yes we know this is based around the 6 down on their luck men from Sheffield, but at least the original film had humor to it.

The whole show is a complete waste of the talents of the cast. As well as a complete waste in getting t hem all back together.

There is hope in the 1st episode that you imagine the story will be them getting back together to do their show on a talent show, sadly this is dashed very early on.

Don't ruin your memories of a fantastic film by watching this.

I didn't know how badly I needed this show

[bethanyldameron · 10/10 · 29 June 2023]

It won't be for everyone, but it felt perfect for me.

It's not like the movie and it took a while for me to realize how relevant the title still was despite the fact that there really isn't any stripping in this show - at least not the way you might expect.

The stripping is of facades, expectation, beliefs, assumptions, and that lie we all try and tell that "Everything's fine." It's about human connection. Vulnerability, helplessness, breaking things, trying to fix them, breaking them again, and still trying.

This is probably the most human show I've seen in a long time. There aren't really good characters and bad characters. There's just people, with all the beauty and flaws that come along with that.

I came to love just about every character on the show. I laughed, I cried, I was even scared for them at one rather amusing bird related incident.

This is by far one of my new favorite shows and I am so grateful to everyone who made it happen. Best thing I've seen in a long time.

Watchable. But very disappointing. Unfortunately

[julianarconz · 6/10 · 19 June 2023]

I watched the movie again before binging the season in one go and I was very disappointed. I kept waiting for a show to raise money for whatever reason and it never came. It kinda was all over the place with plenty of holes like whatever happened to Guy and even with the girlfriend, did she have the baby? Where was he that he didn't attend the funeral?

It felt like halfway through they wanted to focus on one character at each episode but it left holes in continuity. Confusing. Stories and arches all over the place and totally random. And it really didn't need to make them all look like a stereotype of "old".

It's really sad cause the cast is so good but it was poorly written. Felt like they tried to write English humour with social criticism but failed miserably.

The ending was lazy, to say the least.

This is the real life

[WendySBG · 9/10 · 16 June 2023]

I love it, not because it's funny as the movie (although there are some really good laughs), but because it shows the actual real life, the good and the bad, and all the ugliness of modern society, that's supposed to be more advanced than it was in the past.

It also shows small and not so small good and beautiful things, that make life worth living. It also reminds us to pay attention to people we care for and to listen not only with your ears, but with your heart. Because someone might need your help, your friendship, your guidance, or even just a kind gesture or word, and you should recognize that, before it's too late.

Tom Wilkinson?!

[chris_hirons · 7/10 · 20 June 2023]

The structure of the show scenes and the characters is quite unusual. Tom Wilkinson who was one of the forefront characters of the movie and has an extremely decorated mainstream career doesn't have any storyline around him whatsoever. He's just sitting in the cafe for most all of it. He's an old boy now so perhaps it's the limit of what he can do right now but it just feels a little odd. It's better than what I thought and some great additional characters have been introduced but some of the acting from quite established actors is a bit ropey. Not sure if I would want a second season but to be fair I did watch all the way through and found it ok.

Disappointing

[brebelonunes · 2/10 · 16 June 2023]

I'm a big fan of the original film so I was hoping the series would be an exciting thing to watch. It's not. It's rubbish. It's time of your life you won't get back. The script is really poor, they've just tried too hard and didn't manage to deliver. Is it a comedy? Is it a drama? Is it both? No one really knows. Really boring storyline, characters hard to connect to. It's just not funny at all. I understand people have bills to pay and Disney just grabbed the opportunity but this series is something that should never have happened. Its a money grab. Keep your good memories safe. Don't bother watching. And Hugo Spear being demonised for hanging around naked in his own trailer??? Wtf??

Slow start ultimately fab

[gershwink · 9/10 · 14 June 2023]

How anyone can leave a review of a series based on watching half the first episode is totally baffling. It's also totally their loss.

I will admit that I was a little undecided after episode 1 but decided to stick with it. So glad I did.

Dont expect it to be like the movie it isn't. It is though important that you have seen the movie.

I dont normally write reviews but in this instance, just felt the low ratings were really unjustified.

In fact, this isn't really a review lol Just stick with it watch more than one episode.

A totally different story to the original movie but with the same charm, humour,pathos, characters and scenery.

I'm slightly biased as a one time resident of Sheffield.

Just give it a chance.

Flogging a dead Horse

[xmasdaybaby1966 · 7/10 · 27 June 2023]

I am writing this after series one and considering the uproar behind the scenes and thd age if the cast, the probably will be no need for a season 2.

It starts off slowly but does improve only to fall back again.

Guy doesn't have much of a role here and then, due to behind the scenes nudity, is written out altogether (he appears in flashbacks in episode 1 but not in the final episode) just as his character was probably about to get a bigger part and also his heavily pregnant wife to be Yvonne.

Gerald hardly gets a look in, mainly just sat in the cafe with no storyline and then another character endearingly passes away, mainly due to being let down by the system.

There are some good new characters with Dennis seemingly having been in it from the start and Darren gets a big role once Guy disappears It was a good idea but the writing and/or the acting just isn't up to it.

A fair watch but haven't missed much if you don't watch it.

Not worth it

[garydjardine · 3/10 · 18 June 2023]

A very weak storyline. Felt like it was almost going out of the way to target a young audience and forcibly being inclusive rather than natural and fluent. (Korean billionaire working and living in a cafe???) awful, awful sub plot. The episode that was basically useless and unnecessary was the one with the asylum seeker. I don't really understand what this had to do with anything???

Overall very disappointing and overly far fetched rather than natural and flowing. Really cringy in parts and fails to do the original movie any justice. I found some episodes almost impossible to sit through but stayed with it and enjoyed brief glimmers of that the film could have been.

Don't expect The Full Monty from, this is the TV series in its own glory.

[stevenjenkins-26117 · 9/10 · 19 June 2023]

I have fond memories of watching the 1997 film and I'm in no way one of those people that say a remake or sequel can spoil a movie from the past, it can't. The original film will always be what it was.

This follow-on tv mini series delivers how real life turns out. There's more elaboration on personal lives. Hardship, relationships, challenges, the nitty-gritty and the warmth that having good people in your life can bring.

It showcases real life in a typical working class city in the UK. The cast were great. An older version of their younger selves we remember from the late 90's. We can't forget this is over 25 years on from then. The world is a little different but the core of the characters remain the same albeit aged with what life brings.

The storylines take on a very modern view of today's world.

I've enjoyed each episode. There's a lot of drama, scandal, character devolpment and surprises thrown in.

The scenic pictures of Sheffield is charming. Good northern humour is thrown in to the mix of some deep storylines.

At only 8 episodes it had me wanting more.

Meh

[alexmalins · 6/10 · 3 July 2023]

To start with the positives, the cast was excellent, like the film and despite a few cringe worthy scenes the acting was on point too.

Being from Sheffield myself, I really enjoyed seeing parts of it on the show.

However, my biggest complaint was there was a real lack of direction, it was lots of little stories with slight overlapping themes, which made the whole season feel more like soap than a TV show.

It completely lost the happy go lucking theme of the film and really dug in deep to the problems the UK faces, with a real lack of comedy.

I appreciate TV shows taking a political theme but due to the lack of narrative, it felt often more that the show was preaching on its soap box than telling any story.

Overall, fairly disappointed by the show losing a lot of energy that made the film so good, pretty bored towards the end, glad it was only 8 episodes.

Highly Recommend

[EASTjam · 9/10 · 19 June 2023]

This is a very different beast to the film but well worth a watch and persevere with if it seems to dip a bit in the middle. Some of the episodes are stronger than others, but all have their memorable moments. Social politics are very much central to this show. School & nhs underfunding, mental health services, poverty, housing issues, bullying, the benefits system are all fair game. However, that doesn't mean it's not funny; it's just not a gag a minute but their are several laugh out loud sequences. It's definitely worth staying with until the end of the series. The last episode is very moving. Pleased this worked, as loved the film.

Not thrilled

[clavelle-50460 · 6/10 · 25 June 2023]

It was great to see all the gang again, but it was disappointing overall.

Many new characters were added, understandably. But I didn't care for most of them.

My biggest problem with the series was the amount of 'issues' that were addressed. Alcoholism, infidelity, hunger, disabled/handicapped (multiple characters), suicide (multiple episodes), just to name a few. I couldn't list everything if I tried. (Watch and you'll understand.)

It was as if they didn't expect the series to be renewed for a second season so they tried to pack as much into season one as they could. For that reason, I hope it doesn't get renewed. There's not much left they can do. There was very little that was even remotely amusing.

In closing, RIP Horse. You shouldn't have gone out that way and deserved a better storyline.

Ignore the critics....

[quietman-96226 · 10/10 · 18 June 2023]

Just binge watched the series, didn't mean to bit it was so good we couldn't stop.. The series follows on seamlessly 25 years on from the film. It holds the hard life on the dole as the film portrayed and takes us on a very credible journey in the lives of our heroes. New characters have been introduced that seam easily into the storyline. The writers have really thought about what would have happened over the 25 years and have developed very creditable storyline around the old characters as well as the new ones, resulting in a quite mesmerising take for the viewer to enjoy. If you enjoyed the film, this is a must watch series.

Like seeing old friends

[Colbridge · 7/10 · 3 August 2023]

The good news is that The Full Monty TV series of 2023 is just as warm, witty and enjoyable as the phenomenally successful 1997 film with all of the original cast members returning 25 years later. Writer and creator Simon Beaufort continues the adventures of his much loved characters from the movie and carries them over into this 6 part TV show.

I was skeptical at first whether this would work but once we see Mark Addy, Robert Carlisle, Paul Barber and the rest of the gang on screen any fears are immediately dispelled by the familiar humour, witty banter and socio-economic observations of life in current day Sheffield. The only depressing thing is that not a lot has changed for the area in all that time, in fact some things have gotten worse due to broken promises and lack of funding in deprived areas of the UK by a string of successive British Governments and Prime Ministers.

Apart from that sad fact the other significant change from the film is that there isn't the same pre-occupation with forming a Chippendales style dance troupe to make ends meet, a plot device that served well for the film and gave it some notoriety but wouldn't work 25 years later. It is referred to in one episode as a nice homage to the original but this isn't what The Full Monty in 2023 is all about, after all getting your kit off again being 25 years older is a big ask and I'm not sure we would want to see that. However the central theme of friendships, relationships and coming together as a community to overcome adversity remains intact.

This show has a big heart, warmth and depth and it feels rather like meeting up with old friends. My only criticism is that Tom Wilkinson isn't given much to do here despite being front and center of things in the movie. New characters are introduced, particularly the younger generation, which makes it feel like Waterloo Road (2006) at times but once you get used to this mix of young and old then you can settle in and enjoy the welcome return of this comedy drama.

A bit of a let down

[tranch_afc · 5/10 · 15 June 2023]

As a fan of the movie, I'm sad to say the series was somewhat disappointing. The writer's seemed highly confused about what they wanted it to be! Was it an adult comedy or teen melodrama? It got caught between the two and failed to deliver for either category as a result.

Overall it's worth a watch if you've got nothing better to do, but it's a series I won't be recommending to friends or family. Honestly, if they were intent on reviving the story, another movie probably would have been the better idea. This was just eight episodes of unnecessary dragged out story with very little pay off in the end. And they didn't even do the full monty! Lol, what a waste.

With the tremendous cast available, it could and should have been so much better.

Alls good after episode 1.

[rbzmshfh · 10/10 · 14 June 2023]

This show is 100% a slow burner. When the first episode came on I was worried, really really worried. The full Monty is my all time favourite film, I was upset for the fist 30 mins of the first episode, however stick with it and the original charm begins to shine through again, If you like the original film, you should definitely stick with it and keep on until at least episode 3. It's sad moving, bleak and funny, the same three things that's made the first one so good, it just dose it in a different way. I do however miss the orchestra throughout, that the first film had. The music is good through. Overall It could be bleaker but it works well.

Gets miles better half way through

[emmalingster · 7/10 · 31 August 2023]

I watched the first 4 episodes and wasn't highly impressed - the daughter character was in the first episode a lot and she was quite annoying, the story lines seemed forced, not particularly funny and the main characters were lacking the chemistry that they had in the film. I was going to give up watching the rest but, fortunately, I didn't. Episode 5 onwards was a vast improvement and I'm very glad that I persevered until the end. The last three episodes especially have really good chemistry between the main characters, heart felt moments and several laughs which is all very reminiscent of the style of the film. I recommend this.

Grange Hill with swearing

[wagstaff_david · 4/10 · 14 June 2023]

Although it tries hard, it's a pale reflection of the original. Ironic really as sitcoms usually struggle to go from the small screen to the Cinema. This is the reverse,it tries too hard to pack as many gags as it can into each shot and fails miserably. It strikes me that someone came across the original film and thought hey, this would make a great series. Sadly not. This is a waste of some fantastic talent and hopefully many of the younger cast are destined for fine careers, but they are let down by a woefully inadequate script. What a shame as I really like the original and I was keen to watch the series.

Excellent, hilarious but also true to live.

[anwilson-206-448049 · 10/10 · 4 July 2023]

Just finished watching this and have to say we we're really impressed. I would highly recommend this to any of the original Full Monty fans but also for people who've never seen it. It says a heartbreaking yet comical farewell to one of the originals, but also highlights the modern day issues in this current country so very relevant. If you're wanting something to watch and to also give you a good giggle then thisnis the show for you. Disney has done a great job with this and its has legs for other series without ruining it. So in summary we loved it and would recommend it to anyone just enjoy it as its meant to be taken.