Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Based on the BBC's cult sitcom that ran from 1992-2012, this full-length movie revolves around the misadventures of two bawdy, Bollinger-boozing, middle-aged fashionistas. Enlisting the help of her BFF Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley), British publicist Edina “Eddy” Monsoon (Jennifer Saunders) is determined to sign a new client: supermodel Kate Moss. Edina lives in a palatial West London house which she shares with her elderly mother (June Whitfield), prim divorced daughter (Julia Sawalha), and 13-year-old granddaughter (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness). With Eddy's personal assistant (Jane Horrocks) overpaying herself, times are tough (her roster has dwindled to only two clients: singer Lulu and “Spice Girl” Emma Bunton). Since no one wants to publish Eddy's memoir, snagging Moss is of utmost importance. Predictably, everything goes wrong at the splashy launch party for designer Huki Muki (Janette Tough), forcing them to flee to the glittering French Riviera. Instead of originality, director Mandie Fletcher relies on campy vulgarity and lots of starry, self-reverential cameos: Jerry Hall, Joan Collins, Rebel Wilson, Dame Edna (Barry Humphries), etc. Frothy and farcical, but far from fabulous, this is an optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include production featurettes (31 min.), “On Set with Dame Edna” (14 min.), outtakes (8 min.), deleted scenes (4 min.), a photo gallery (3 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing comedy.] (S. Granger)