Like with 'Little Britain', I am mortified to admit that there was once a time I used to find 'Absolutely Fabulous' hilarious. Now, bear in mind I was at that time an impressionable youngster who was easily amused. Now, as a mature adult, I think back and cannot seem to fathom why I ever found it funny. I mean, what the hell is so funny about a pair of old skanks getting drunk and running around screeching like banshees?
Starting life as a sketch from an episode of 'French & Saunders', 'Absolutely Fabulous' ( or 'Ab Fab' as many of its fans seem to refer to it as ) was all about chain smoking, heavy drinking, drug taking, plastic surgery obsessed Edina Monsoon and her equally addled friend Patsy Stone. Edina has two children, the sensible Saffron ( or Saffy as Edina often called her ) and the seldom seen Serge. Also on the scene are Edina's scatty mother, who is often verbally scalded by her manipulative daughter.
Jennifer Saunders hams it up so much here that it is toe curlingly cringing to watch. Joanna Lumley, who at that time was my biggest childhood crush, is wasted in the role of Patsy. Julia Sawalha, who replaced Dawn French in the role of Saffy, is boring and unfunny. The show's only real saving grace is June Whitfield as Edina's mum. The gorgeous Helen Lederer, who appeared occasionally as Patsy and Eddy's ditzy friend Catriona, has appeared in far better things than this such as 'Naked Video' and 'Happy Families' ( which also starred Jennifer Saunders and to far better comic effect too in my view ).
The show's theme tune is a painful cover of Bob Dylan and Rick Danko's '60's hit 'This Wheel's On Fire'. It has been announced that a movie of 'Ab Fab' is currently in production. Why not just leave it where it is? In fact, why not just leave it full stop.
Starting life as a sketch from an episode of 'French & Saunders', 'Absolutely Fabulous' ( or 'Ab Fab' as many of its fans seem to refer to it as ) was all about chain smoking, heavy drinking, drug taking, plastic surgery obsessed Edina Monsoon and her equally addled friend Patsy Stone. Edina has two children, the sensible Saffron ( or Saffy as Edina often called her ) and the seldom seen Serge. Also on the scene are Edina's scatty mother, who is often verbally scalded by her manipulative daughter.
Jennifer Saunders hams it up so much here that it is toe curlingly cringing to watch. Joanna Lumley, who at that time was my biggest childhood crush, is wasted in the role of Patsy. Julia Sawalha, who replaced Dawn French in the role of Saffy, is boring and unfunny. The show's only real saving grace is June Whitfield as Edina's mum. The gorgeous Helen Lederer, who appeared occasionally as Patsy and Eddy's ditzy friend Catriona, has appeared in far better things than this such as 'Naked Video' and 'Happy Families' ( which also starred Jennifer Saunders and to far better comic effect too in my view ).
The show's theme tune is a painful cover of Bob Dylan and Rick Danko's '60's hit 'This Wheel's On Fire'. It has been announced that a movie of 'Ab Fab' is currently in production. Why not just leave it where it is? In fact, why not just leave it full stop.