The Full Monty: Fully Exposed Edition [2 Discs]

A once thriving Yorkshire steel town, Sheffield has nearly been destroyed by the after-effects of former British Prime Minister Thatcher's regime. Gaz (Robert Carlyle, Trainspotting's Begbie), his pudgy mate Dave (Mark Addy), and their pals have been unable to recover from the devastating closure of the steel mills and they lead aimless existences until the sexy Chippendale dancers come to town and wow the local women with their bronzed buffed bodies and sinuous moves. The amount of money raked in by the troupe inspires Gaz and Dave to create their own group of exotic dancers, one that promises to give their audience the "full monty" (in other words, to completely strip). Their first recruit for the troupe is their stuffy former mill supervisor Gerald (Tom Wilkinson). As his hobby is teaching amateur ballroom dance, he becomes the choreographer. The three are soon joined by others. Guy (Hugo Speer) aspires to be the new Donald O'Connor, but has more in common with Francis the Talking Mule (in at least one key area), and it is for this reason the others admit him to the group. Horse (Paul Barber) has some good dance moves -- at least they were good in the '70s -- while the depressive Lomper dances to keep from killing himself. To pump themselves up, the group watches Flashdance several times. An energetic and irreverent look at the character's desperate struggles to maintain a modicum of self respect after their livelihood and to a large degree, their identity is stripped away, The Full Monty is simultaneously funny and touching.