It's been 24 years since Eddy and Patsy began to take over our TV screens, but the sweetie darlings have proved their longevity in the new film aptly titled 'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie'.
In this feature-length fashion-filled affair, the girls are somewhat fading into obscurity. Taking the sudden tumble into irrelevance badly, Eddy sets out to find a fresh new face for her PR company.
Learning that famous model Kate Moss has dropped her PR manager, Eddy and Patsy make themselves known at Patsy's fashion event and, in doing so, wreak havoc. Kate is pushed into the depths of the Thames, supposedly by Eddy, and the dynamic duo flee to the south of France in order to escape the madness. They bring Eddy's cashed-up granddaughter Lola (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) with them, much to the shock and disappointment of her mother Saffy (Julia Sawalha), who is more dreary and humiliated than ever before as Eddy's daughter.
The film didn't feel too much like a try-hard expansion of a popular TV series like they so often do in these cases. The genius of Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley is next-to-none, and their comedy is royal. With more celebrity cameos than you can count on both hands and feet (literally), it was a dynamic hour-and-a-bit where familiar faces popped up all over the place. Emma Bunton (The Spice Girls), Joan Collins, Graham Norton, Stella McCartney and our own Barry Humphries and Rebel Wilson all had screen time.
Eddy's assistant Bubble (Jane Horrocks) is as quirky as ever (perhaps even more so) and, obviously, provides standout hilarious looks throughout the film. Her most interesting was probably a poncho with a giant face on it, and a neck chain with sunglasses to cover the face's eyes. Genius.
It wouldn't be a TV show turned film without references to the O.G, and there were most definitely enough to satisfy die-hard fans from start to finish.
Although in some parts it lacked depth and felt a little forced, 'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie' was a well-done homage to the game-changing series it originated from.
★★★☆☆ 1/2
'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie' is in cinemas from 4 August.
