Eddy’s return far from Fabulous
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (M) 91 mins
It’s hard not to be a little cynical when a hit TV series from a lifetime ago suddenly rears its head with a feature length movie – particularly when Absolutely Fabulous feels very of-its-time but, er, not-so-much-this-time anymore (I was shocked to discover there were a few episodes pushed out in 2011/12, but perhaps I was the only one to walk away during its ‘90s heyday). However, if you’re a lifelong fan, you’ll be thrilled to know that Eddy and Patsy are back in all their glorious grossness, and the drunken capers just got even more outlandish. When Dad’s Army returned after nearly four decades, it took a slightly different tack by recasting the show but sticking to its original time period, and while audiences loved this remake much more than I did, it too felt like an odd choice for a revival after such a long (and appropriately so) absence.
Interestingly, Absolutely Fabulous rejuvenates its original cast (Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley look just the same – either one heck of a feat of makeup or perhaps a touch of their characters’ predilection for Botox) and even brings back Bubble, Mother and poor, long-suffering Saffy (Julia Sawalha, the only one looking slightly older and even more tired) for the ride.
The movie’s premise reads like a rejected script for Zoolander 2: desperate to revive her flagging PR career with new clientele, Eddy chases supermodel Kate Moss and accidentally tips her into the River Thames. Suddenly spurned by a nation of Diana-inspired mourners, Eddy and Patsy make a dash for the South of France to live the high-life on the run.
I’m sure I was amused last century, but aside from a nostalgic chortle when Lumley first stumbles onto the screen, the laughs are fitful. Awash with famous faces demonstrating varying degrees of acting chops, you really need to know your fashionista glitterati in order to enjoy all the empty-headed cameos. Otherwise, this Ab Fab feels just like the old ones – only now slightly out of step with modern living. But then, perhaps Eddy and Patsy always were, and that’s the point.