Alright, so this film is really about stripping, but close enough. The Full Monty is the story of a group of down and out laborers in a industrial town in the north of England. They're all laid off, and their self esteem is at an all time low. But they stumble upon a novel idea to make a little extra cash -- performing at a strip club. And what's more, they're going to do the full monty, so they will be quite literally exposed in front of their entire community (well, the ones who go to male strip clubs, anyway). Sure, they're not exactly the Chippendales type, but their awkwardness crosses over into adorable territory, and you root for them throughout the entire film. Losing your job is something that's incredibly depressing for most people, especially men, and it's wonderful to see them find a way to feel good about themselves again (through the power of dance). The choreography is hilariously endearing, and they manage to find a tremendous amount of dignity and liberation in something is traditionally depicted as degrading.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
