TV Review | The Full Monty Season 1

“The Full Monty makes an unexpected but triumphant comeback. This is an heartfelt and fun series, recapturing the magic of the first film while also being relevant to our times. Robert Carlyle is still as funny as he used to be and Talitha Wing is a great addition to the cast.”

The classic British film The Full Monty was released in 1997. 26 years later, Gaz and his friends are back for a follow-up TV series. The Full Monty consists of 8 episodes of around 50 minutes each. I had the opportunity to watch them all last month. The series releases on June 14 on Disney Plus with STAR around the world and on Hulu for the United States.

STORY

Honestly, it is never easy to do a sequel so many years after the original one. Nevertheless, it is always a good start when they are able to bring back the original cast and crew. Simon Beaufoy who wrote the film, actually created, wrote and executive produced the series. The film was a social commentary on the British middle class. So where do you go from there? The series continues that commentary. As a matter of fact, there is still a lot to say about the British middle class in 2023. Time has passed but some things haven’t changed much.

This time, it is not about doing a striptease act. The story simply follows these characters in their daily lives. Gaz (played by Robert Carlyle) is still struggling and so are some of his friends. Because it is an 8-episode series, there is more time to spend with each character and fully explore their struggles. Moreover, we also meet some new faces including Gaz’s daughter Destiny (played by Talitha Wing).

At its heart, The Full Monty is a feel-good comedy, the kind that only British people know how to make. It puts the characters in ridiculous situations with Gaz’s usual schemes, not that he is the only one creating troubles this time. There are a lot of funny moments. With the use of sharp humour it addresses serious issues. But it can also be quite emotional at times. Undoubtedly, this sequel has recaptured what made the original film so special – an heartfelt and relevant story with endearing characters who could actually be your neighbours or your friends.

By the end of the final episode, you definitely want to keep spending time with these characters. It feels like a conclusion but it leaves the door open for more and I am fairly certain I won’t be the only one wanting more!

CAST

Furthermore, it feels great to see the original cast back. It is one of these sequels you didn’t expect would happen but you are happy it happened because it does bring back together an amazing cast. The friendship chemistry between these people is still there. Robert Carlyle is as funny as he used to be. His line delivery and his hand gesture are exactly the same. Mark Addy brings more depth to his character, showing us a different side of Dave we didn’t see in the first film. And despite only having a limited role, Tom Wilkinson still shines on screen. On top of that, Talitha Wing is the real MVP among the newcomers. She breathes new life into this story.

SOUNDTRACK

Finally, like the first film, The Full Monty features a great mix of songs from different genres. These songs are mostly from British artists but there are also some French songs. But I want to direct my attention to one particular episode in which Talitha Wing sings a powerful cover of ‘Nina Cried Power’ by Hozier. I honestly think it is even better than the original song itself. Talitha really has a strong voice. This cover is simply perfect for that particular scene. The editing, the montage, the close-up shots, the song, it is all deeply touching. This is a brilliant moment of television.

VISUALS

The Full Monty returns to Sheffield in South Yorkshire. It showcases the beauty of the English small towns while also showing its misery too. There is an interesting contrast between these two sides. It keeps things real and grounded. This is a very fine cinematography. They used a natural lighting, keeping it simple. And the frequent use of close-up shots really captures all the actors’ emotions.

VERDICT

The Full Monty makes an unexpected but triumphant comeback. This is an heartfelt and fun series, recapturing the magic of the first film while also being relevant to our times. Robert Carlyle is still as funny as he used to be and Talitha Wing is a great addition to the cast. This is a must-watch!

The Full Monty starts streaming on Disney Plus with Star on June 14.

Thomas Storai

Collectables Editor at Future Of The Force.
Star Wars and Marvel specialist, anime expert