Customer Reviews

The Full Monty

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The book (on which the film was based) is, at the same time, tragic, funny and moving. Full of the dark, working-class humor of the north of England, it tells the story of a group of unemployed men who decide that emulation of the Chippendales would be a good way to turn a buck. Sadly, these anti-heroes lack the skill or the physique of their well-muscled counterparts but decide, nevertheless, to 'go the full Monty' and give it a try. The community is kept in the dark as our six heroes practice the routines and try to tighten up the flab.

The Full Monty highlights the fears and inadequacies of men who have begun to lose their self-respect and possibly their families. The confidence they need can only come from stripping bare the deeper issues that trouble their individual lives (pun intended). The result is a humane, idiosyncratic, triumphant comedy that has won the hearts of millions around the world. Maybe the first full-frontal fairy tale!

I've both read the book and seen the film. The book is better, taking time to examine in more depth the characters of Gaz, Dave, Lomper, Horse, Guy and Gerald.

PLEASE NOTE-All the reviews (including the editorial ones) seem to be referring to the novel by Wendy Holden which was based on the screenplay listed here. My review is for the screenplay- isbn 1901680029, NOT the novel which is improperly linked as the other edition of this book.
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Every bit as fun as the movie! Excellent peek into the psyche of the working class man, self esteem and body image, societal pressures, and the differences between men and women. There were also a few scenes that did not make it to the film version. Reading the screenplay was a wonderful aide in helping to grasp and understand the language of the film as well. It was written in the same accents as it was spoken. I really enjoyed reading this and it made re-watching the film that much more enjoyable.

I thought I'd get up to speed with this book, since I missed the movie. Maybe knowing the book was written based on the movie, probably the screenplay, may have biased me.

It was not at all like reading a "normal" novel, like a bestseller. It was like what it purported to be: an author given the probably unenviable task of "cripping" on a screenplay to come up with a book.

But, I could see where the movie would be better, because you do need the bodily aspect, the dancing, and the music, to make this story work. The book has none of that. The cover has pictures of the actors, but that's it.

The build-up to the climax, when the men dance, seemed too long and repetitive, the same kind of failings happening over and over. Finally, the climax, when the men dance and "all is forgiven," and everyone lives happily ever after; it's too much like a fairy tale.

I guess that was the intention of the original writers, to make it like a modern fairy tale. I think I'd stick with Grimm or Hans C. Andersen, better. Diximus.

Oh, I am so sorry that you lost digits in an industrial accident. I was going to ask you to count on your fingers the GOOD books you have seen wriiten FROM a movie. Maybe you can still do it, because this book won't be on your list.

Wordy, plain, flaccid, vapid, artless... Who in the world hired this done?

If you INSIST on reading a copy, get one through your library, and donate the difference to charity!

Whether in film or in novel form, The Full Monty is a charming story. In an age of copious "chick-flicks," The Full Monty (finally!) presents its masculine counterpart. Though its themes are gender universal--financial hardship, self-image, and friendship, to name a few--here we get a believable, side-splitting glimpse into the male perspective. However, Wendy Holden's adaptation is stripped of all the character possessed by the screenplay on which it's based. The characters lack likeability, thus a story that is potentially rich in both tender and comedic moments falls short of successful. If you want to go The Full Monty, I recommend reading the screenplay or renting the video instead.