Director: Peter Cattaneo Writer: Simon Beaufoy
Gaz (Robert Carlyle), is an unemployed steelworker. He is in danger of losing access visits to his son, and he needs money badly. He gets a wild idea after hearing about a sold-out performance by the Chippendale dancers - why don't he and his mates become male strippers?
Just to ensure they are successful they will go "The full Monty" i.e. strip completely naked.
Now Gaz and his fellow dancers are just ordinary blokes. They're not Chippendales by any stretch of the imagination, and they will have to swallow a lot of pride if they're going to go through with it.
Because, this is a movie about pride - male pride in particular. All the 'dancers' have to cope with the idea that they aren't the breadwinners any more. The fragility of their "male identity" has been streatched to breaking point. Dave (Mark Addy), a "big bloke" who tries to sweat the weight off his waistline while he munches on chocolate bars, is convinced his wife doesn't want him any more, and is having an affair. Tom Wilkinson is Gaz's former supervisor, Gerald, who lacks the courage to tell his wife that he's been unemployed for the past six months. Gaz himself, for all his apparent optimism, just wants to feel he is a good father.
The performances are convincing, the script is excellent, and the direction draws you into the depressing world the characters live in, without ever depressing you. It's also very funny. See it, if you haven't already.