Mark-Addy Movie Reviews

This video contains episodes 3(Honey Trap) and 4(Rag Week) of this hilarious Britcom concerning a Police Inspector and the bumbling oafs (to a man) he works with at the precinct. TBL ran from November 1995 to December 1996. The series only consists of 14 episodes total so I hope they bring it to DVD soon along with Mr. Bean. Anyone who loves Rowan Atkinson's Black Adder will love his performance here as Inspector Fowler. The writing is hilarious and intelligent, which is no surprise being written by Ben Elton who also wrote Filthy, Rich, & Catflap and co-wrote Black Adder, Mr. Bean, and of course the Young Ones! Honestly, can he do no wrong? For that matter, can he and Rowan do no wrong when they team up? The rest of the cast is brilliant and the comedic moments are definitely shared. I've watched these episodes over and over and the dialogue cracks me up everytime. Another of my favorite characters is Detective Inspector Grim of CID (David Haig who played "Bernard Geoffrey St. John Delaney" in Four Weddings & a Funeral (the scene where Rowan as the Priest, couldn't get his name right). Grim has some of the funniest lines in the show:

"It's my backside on the line and I'm right up to my neck in it."

"When you run us up the flagpole you'll find you're saluting a very different kettle of fish."

"He's slippery...like an owl."

Brilliant Shiw. Brilliant cast. I'd say that this sitcom has everything and top-notch storylines. COOL!

Real love with misinterpretation takes its toll when Inspector Fowler¡¯s wedding-proposal approach to Pat gets out of hand. And the mistaken identity of a dog for a man puts Raymond on the edge. As do they hopefully tried to live unhappily ever after. Of course I was happy to watch the episode. Thus it would have been a true story my sympathies.

Out of all of the documentary films that I have seen over the years, this film rates #1! From the moment the film begins to it's great ending, you'll be at the edge of your seat! Take it from me, if you are considering buying or renting this film I would strongly suggest doing one or the other.

This series was extremely well written and involves both intelligent
humor--especially wrt the English language--and the more peurile
humor. It also weaves the two types of humor together in such a way
as to make you roll on the floor with laughter. It's too bad they don't
have it on dvd or at least have more than just 2 episodes on a tape.

Ben Elton is arguably one of the finest comedic writers in the world, and no one is better at bringing his words to life than Rowan Atkinson. This is not the first time the two have collaborated together. The Blackadder series is the most notable brainchild of these two comic geniuses. In the Thin Blue Line, Rowan Atkinson plays Inspector Raymond Fowler, a character wholly unlike the lovable cad, Edmund Blackadder. This video is a must have for all British comedy fans everywhere.

I brought "The Full Monty" home one evening when my boyfriend was not feeling well because I thought that a good laugh would cheer him up. His reaction to seeing the video box? "I'm already not feeling well. I don't want to watch a movie about a bunch of male strippers prancing around." And then we put in the movie and couldn't stop laughing.

"The Full Monty" is about so much more than male strippers. The film centers around out-of-work steelworkers trying to cope with life now that their mill is shut down. The movie realistically explores male friendship, men's feelings about failing their wives' expectations, devotion to family, coping with loss,... but in ways that do not become depressing.

The stripper plan comes about because Gaz (Robert Carlyle) needs to come up with money to bring his child support current so that he can continue seeing his son. The father-son relationship is one of the most touching aspects of the movie. Gaz's son, Nate, tags along with Gaz as he tries to put together a Chippendale-style show to catch up on his child support. [As an aside, "The Full Monty" and "A Thousand Clowns" with Jason Robards would be an interesting pair of movies to see together as a starting point for examining what makes a good father.]

The relationships between the dancers that Mark Addy and Carlyle assemble is fun to watch. Tom Wilkison (also seen in "The Patriot", "In the Bedroom", and "Moulin Rouge") is excellent as their former supervisor who turns to dancing to cover his wife's extravagant spending. Addy is equally good as Gaz's chubby friend who is struggling with his marriage: His wife wants him to take a job in a local variety store. He thinks she's having an affair because he's too fat.

To top it off, the soundtrack is awesome!

"The Full Monty" is one of those rare films that gets comedy and drama JUST RIGHT!! This is the story of Gaz, an unemployed former criminal who is trying to maintain his relationship with his son. When his ex-wife seeks full custody, he must find a way to start raising his support money. He gathers his mates and devises a scheme where they would put on a stripper show. Hilarity ensues.
Robert Carlyle is great in this movie, not nearly as severe and evil as his role as Begby in "Trainspotting." He demonstrates a softer side that allows the audience to root for him. Mark Addy and Tom Wilkinson give strong performances as friends Dave and Gerald, respectively. Dave struggles with his weight and his marriage while Gerald hopes to find a job quickly to pay his wife's credit card bills. These are real life situations these men face. It's all believable and human.
It's no wonder this film was among the five that year nominated for Best Picture. Curses to "Titanic" for being such a big deal! But the Oscars helped more people discover this relatively smaller picture (which I believe is only in terms of budget and gross) and now it has become a kind of cult favorite in the U.S.
One suggestion to American audiences: If you're going to watch the DVD, turn the subtitles on. The accents are thick, so this will help you understand it.

Hilarious and touching. Deals with heavy issues without forcing anything down your throat and keeps you laughing. Man-strippers unite!

What a fun way to use up an evening. It is not a deep movie, it will not give you insight into British politics or humanity itself, just lots of good laughs.

We watch as 6 unemployed Yorkshire bloks work up the courage and, dare I say, the talent, to go the Full Monty after the Chppendale Dancers swagger their goods through town. Seeing this as an easy way to fatten their wallets we go through the emotions of these every day guys trying to just make it in the world when they lose their jobs, their furniture and lives when the Steel Mill they work in closes.

It is great to watchthe relationships in this movie. That between Mark Addy's character and his wife that he thinks is cheating on him, because he sees himself as to fat. Addy and Robert Carlyle as friends is fun and funny. The greatest relationship to watch is between Carlyle and the kid who plays his son Nate. All this stripping hulabaloo started as a way for Carlyle (Gaz) to repay his back child support so he can continue to see his son whom he loves very much, though he may not always be the best role model. The kid is in on some of the casting calls and helps with the music. All the characters are a shear riot to watch.

I highly recommend this film. It has a broad range to reach more than just those who enjoy British films, it is not that stuffy! great listening to and trying to decipher the dialect while keeping up witht he movie.

I was quite impressed with this story centering on a hard-luck post industrial town and its desperate but likeable inhabitants.

The main character represents a type we are all familiar with, a man who believes that charm alone will bring him all he wants and needs...until his ex-wife puts his back to the wall with a threat to withdraw access to his young son unless he starts paying court ordered child support.

This slick slacker is someone you'd be hard pressed to find sympathy for until you understand the very deep love for his son battling the Peter Pan immaturity of his nature.

What a wonderful light bulb clicking moment when he finds his ex accompanied by his luckless pal's wife at a Chippendale type entertainment.

Believing his own talents equal to the money making muscle bound strippers, he sets off on a journey of self-discovery dragging his skeptical but loyal young son along.

As he ensnares one after another of the down-on-their-luck former employees of the defunct factory into his get rich by getting naked scheme, each unknowingly becomes the kind of man he didn't believe possible.

But will this timid team of cash poor prancers go the whole way in front of everyone they know? I won't spoil the ending but beyond going "the full monty", they reveal more to themselves than the town.

If all women can be beautiful, then all men can be sexy! This truly hillarious movie shows an out-of-work group of men trying anything to make ends meet. When their womenfolk all go off to see the touring Chippendales show, the ringleader of the guys decides that stripping might not be such a bad gig. After all, all you have to do is dance a little and take off your clothes, right? And they need the money, one guy hasn't told his wife that he's lost his job and she keeps spending money, another needs to pay back child support or forgo seeing his son, and still another just needs the shot of self-esteem to save his marriage. They gather together a group of followers, book the club, and set about creating their act. Well, with a little soul searching and some some dance lessons, this eclectic group of men (most of them not in the least bit handsome) show us that ALL men can be sexy in the right get up and stripping to the right music!

I brought "The Full Monty" home one evening when my boyfriend was not feeling well because I thought that a good laugh would cheer him up. His reaction to seeing the video box? "I'm already not feeling well. I don't want to watch a movie about a bunch of male strippers prancing around." And then we put in the movie and couldn't stop laughing.

"The Full Monty" is about so much more than male strippers. The film centers around out-of-work steelworkers trying to cope with life now that their mill is shut down. The movie realistically explores male friendship, men's feelings about failing their wives' expectations, devotion to family, coping with loss,... but in ways that do not become depressing.

The stripper plan comes about because Gaz (Robert Carlyle) needs to come up with money to bring his child support current so that he can continue seeing his son. The father-son relationship is one of the most touching aspects of the movie. Gaz's son, Nate, tags along with Gaz as he tries to put together a Chippendale-style show to catch up on his child support. [As an aside, "The Full Monty" and "A Thousand Clowns" with Jason Robards would be an interesting pair of movies to see together as a starting point for examining what makes a good father.]

The relationships between the dancers that Mark Addy and Carlyle assemble is fun to watch. Tom Wilkison (also seen in "The Patriot", "In the Bedroom", and "Moulin Rouge") is excellent as their former supervisor who turns to dancing to cover his wife's extravagant spending. Addy is equally good as Gaz's chubby friend who is struggling with his marriage: His wife wants him to take a job in a local variety store. He thinks she's having an affair because he's too fat.

To top it off, the soundtrack is awesome!

"The Full Monty" is one of those rare films that gets comedy and drama JUST RIGHT!! This is the story of Gaz, an unemployed former criminal who is trying to maintain his relationship with his son. When his ex-wife seeks full custody, he must find a way to start raising his support money. He gathers his mates and devises a scheme where they would put on a stripper show. Hilarity ensues.
Robert Carlyle is great in this movie, not nearly as severe and evil as his role as Begby in "Trainspotting." He demonstrates a softer side that allows the audience to root for him. Mark Addy and Tom Wilkinson give strong performances as friends Dave and Gerald, respectively. Dave struggles with his weight and his marriage while Gerald hopes to find a job quickly to pay his wife's credit card bills. These are real life situations these men face. It's all believable and human.
It's no wonder this film was among the five that year nominated for Best Picture. Curses to "Titanic" for being such a big deal! But the Oscars helped more people discover this relatively smaller picture (which I believe is only in terms of budget and gross) and now it has become a kind of cult favorite in the U.S.
One suggestion to American audiences: If you're going to watch the DVD, turn the subtitles on. The accents are thick, so this will help you understand it.

Hilarious and touching. Deals with heavy issues without forcing anything down your throat and keeps you laughing. Man-strippers unite!

I brought "The Full Monty" home one evening when my boyfriend was not feeling well because I thought that a good laugh would cheer him up. His reaction to seeing the video box? "I'm already not feeling well. I don't want to watch a movie about a bunch of male strippers prancing around." And then we put in the movie and couldn't stop laughing.

"The Full Monty" is about so much more than male strippers. The film centers around out-of-work steelworkers trying to cope with life now that their mill is shut down. The movie realistically explores male friendship, men's feelings about failing their wives' expectations, devotion to family, coping with loss,... but in ways that do not become depressing.

The stripper plan comes about because Gaz (Robert Carlyle) needs to come up with money to bring his child support current so that he can continue seeing his son. The father-son relationship is one of the most touching aspects of the movie. Gaz's son, Nate, tags along with Gaz as he tries to put together a Chippendale-style show to catch up on his child support. [As an aside, "The Full Monty" and "A Thousand Clowns" with Jason Robards would be an interesting pair of movies to see together as a starting point for examining what makes a good father.]

The relationships between the dancers that Mark Addy and Carlyle assemble is fun to watch. Tom Wilkison (also seen in "The Patriot", "In the Bedroom", and "Moulin Rouge") is excellent as their former supervisor who turns to dancing to cover his wife's extravagant spending. Addy is equally good as Gaz's chubby friend who is struggling with his marriage: His wife wants him to take a job in a local variety store. He thinks she's having an affair because he's too fat.

To top it off, the soundtrack is awesome!

"The Full Monty" is one of those rare films that gets comedy and drama JUST RIGHT!! This is the story of Gaz, an unemployed former criminal who is trying to maintain his relationship with his son. When his ex-wife seeks full custody, he must find a way to start raising his support money. He gathers his mates and devises a scheme where they would put on a stripper show. Hilarity ensues.
Robert Carlyle is great in this movie, not nearly as severe and evil as his role as Begby in "Trainspotting." He demonstrates a softer side that allows the audience to root for him. Mark Addy and Tom Wilkinson give strong performances as friends Dave and Gerald, respectively. Dave struggles with his weight and his marriage while Gerald hopes to find a job quickly to pay his wife's credit card bills. These are real life situations these men face. It's all believable and human.
It's no wonder this film was among the five that year nominated for Best Picture. Curses to "Titanic" for being such a big deal! But the Oscars helped more people discover this relatively smaller picture (which I believe is only in terms of budget and gross) and now it has become a kind of cult favorite in the U.S.
One suggestion to American audiences: If you're going to watch the DVD, turn the subtitles on. The accents are thick, so this will help you understand it.

Hilarious and touching. Deals with heavy issues without forcing anything down your throat and keeps you laughing. Man-strippers unite!

The thin blue line was a surprise for me. I've seen most of Mr. Bean flicks but this series was completely new to me. I am glad that I found them in the videostore. They are a perfect companion for a lazy afternoon, with a can of coke and a bar of Kit-Kat (or, to be more consitent with the show, Marzbar).

Rowan Atkinson has proven his comic versatility once again. After leaping from perilous Black Adder to dumbfounded Mr. Bean, he has taken a new step towards comic genious. His portrayl of a snooty, over zealous constable is superb and well worth the time. Unlike his other efforts, this series is backed by a cast of persons able to step out of Atkinson's shadows and easily provide a carnival of comic material. A must see for any fan of Britcoms.

An idiotic film about the Middle Ages set at the pace of modern music, fashion, and values: at least Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure never pretended to be anything else than absurd. This film seems to be nothing more than a clumsy and desperate attempt at presenting a sober portrayal of life in the Middle Ages. The fashion and mannerisms are as far off from reflecting the period as the music; why bother making a movie about that time then? Perhaps a movie suitable for teen-age girls who need a hero to throb over but not much else.

I must admit, Heath Ledger is one of my favorite actors. Not because of his acting resume, but, you know (hey, come on, I'm a girl, you know!). 'A Knight's Tale' just proved to me how fun a movie can be. I don't think the film itself tries to be serious, though the dramatic parts can be a bit overdone.

'A Knight's Tale' is about a peasant named William Thatcher, who wishes one day to "change his stars" and become a knight. His father left William one day to the care of another knight. Years later, William and his friends, Roland and Wat, discover the knight dead. Willing to take his place, William poses as the knight and wins. This sparks a growing interest in his mind, and William convinces his buddies to join him on his quest to become a champion jouster. Along the way, they encounter Geoffrey Chaucer, their match announcer, and Kate, a female blacksmith. William also begins to fall in love with the fair Jocelyn, hoping to win her heart. The only problem is is that he is not a noble knight, so he must continue this charade, until...

The story is set to rock music, such as Queen's "We Will Rock You" and dancing to David Bowie's "Golden Years." I think this accurately sets the mood and I can't help but smile every time the peasants clap at the jousting tournaments in unison.

Characters are nicely acted. The supporting characters had a lot of chemistry with each other, especially between Geoffrey and Wat (ok, not really). Shannyn Sossamon, who is a newcomer, did a nice job playing Jocelyn. The only thing that I did not enjoy watching in the film were the dramatic scenes. They didn't seem right and it seemed as if they were trying to slow the momentum.

All in all, 'A Knight's Tale' is something you can enjoy watching if you don't want something to sentimental or full of perverse jokes. It's a rollicking ride.

Let me begin by saying that this film is not what most people expect it to be. Rather than being a typical medieval hack and slash movie, A Knight's Tale is actually a sports movie with a lot of comedy, action, and a bit of romance.

Confused? Well, considering that jousting was probably the sport of choice in the movie's time setting, this makes perfect sense. Still confused? You'll understand when you watch the opening scene with the spectators at a joust singing "We Will Rock You" by Queen. Sound bizarre? I thought so, too, but then it all made perfect sense as I sat and watched.

Basically a tale of a rookie new to the sport and his struggle to the top, this film is now one of my favorites up there with Gladiator and Braveheart. Just like those two movies, Knight's Tale is one of those films that sucks you right in with gorgeous sets, detailed costumes, and great characterization. However, the main difference is that the tone of this movie is rather comical. Actually, I laughed more during A Knight's Tale than I remember laughing during most comedies. This isn't to say that the movie lacks any seriousness. Competition is what jousting is all about, and this film gets you pretty pumped up even without having any battle scenes.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone, and I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. Make sure you don't get to the theater late so you don't miss the "We Will Rock You" opening sequence, and check out Geoffrey Chaucer, one of the major characters. Yes, the same Geoffrey Chaucer that wrote Canterbury Tales. You won't be disappointed.