The Full Monty

The Full Monty is a quintessentially ‘English’ film.  It is not a glamorous or bright setting that one might expect in an American comedy. Instead, it is set in Sheffield during a time of widespread unemployment and despair as the steel industry declined.  Part of what makes this film English is how a potentially depressing story is presented with such humour. The film is rooted in reality dealing with subjects such as unemployment, suicide, depression, impotence, custody over children and marital problems.  Yet the film can be placed firmly within the comedy genre with memorable scenes such as the men waiting in line at the job centre dancing to ‘Hot Stuff’.  The language in the film also reflects the Northern England setting, with the all-British cast using words such as ‘nesh’ and ‘jennel’ that are very specific colloquialisms. The title itself is also a specifically English phrase. The film’s cast and crew are all British which is part of the reason why the film has a particular British attitude and sense of humour.