Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Blu-ray Review

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" arrives on Blu-ray with an impeccable 1080p presentation in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Shot on the high-fidelity Arri Alexa XT and employing an array of visual techniques, including the use of Schneider Hollywood Blackmagic filters for a soft-focus effect in close-ups, the image quality is crisp and teeming with details. This attention to cinematography shines through in the film's vivid palette, which is a hallmark of the series. Despite this inherent softness in certain frames—intentional, to add a layer of humor—the video maintains an outstanding sharpness, particularly noticeable in the audacious costume designs and the brightly lit scenes of Cannes, contrasting sharply with the more subdued colors of London.

The digital source transfer breathes life into the film’s rich color spectrum, from the muted tones of London to the vibrant hues of Cannes, enhancing the movie's visual appeal without sacrificing naturalism. Even in low-light conditions, such as the night-time party scene that catalyzes the plot, black levels remain deep and nuanced, ensuring that scenes retain depth and dimensionality without falling prey to muddiness. The meticulous detail extends to shadow details as well, allowing darker scenes to pop with clarity and preventing them from losing their impact amidst the film's brighter sequences.

Notably, this Blu-ray exemplifies technical proficiency with no evident compression artifacts or stability issues, presenting a seamless viewing experience. The blend of technical choices—from camera hardware to filtering techniques—underscores the movie’s aesthetic and narrative intentions. With its intentional soft-focus moments contributing to the film’s comedic elements and a color palette that shifts to reflect location changes, "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" showcases a masterful use of visual technology to support storytelling.

The audio presentation of "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" on Blu Ray delivers a compelling auditory experience, primarily through its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix, which is perfectly aligned with the film's high-spirited and sometimes chaotic essence. This mix is a carefully orchestrated cacophony that mirrors the raucous lives of the main characters, Patsy and Eddie, with an audio landscape that's as lively and rowdy as they are. The fidelity is strong, offering a dynamic range that’s notably broad for a comedy genre, encapsulating everything from the nuanced environmental sounds to the revamped tunes like "Wheel on Fire," thereby ensuring the viewers are ensconced in the film's uniquely uproarious ambiance.

Dialogue clarity is commendable despite the inherent challenges of capturing the film's many overlapping conversations, ensuring that each high-pitched scream, laughter, or banal banter is heard without confusion. This clarity is a testament to the mix's ability to balance dialogue with the background's vibrant party noises and the more subtle sounds that give every scene its sense of place. Additionally, the surround channels are judiciously utilized to amplify this immersive experience, particularly during party scenes where the ambient sounds and music tracks are given room to breathe and expand, further enhancing the film's overall dimensional quality.

Moreover, the mix excels in creating an engaging soundstage with excellent imaging and channel movement that adds depth and realism to every scene. Background sound effects and scores are woven seamlessly into the mix, enriching the movie's spatial texture and dimension without overwhelming the dialogue. This thoughtful audio mix truly complements the visual spectacle of "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie," making it an exemplar of how sound can elevate the cinematic experience, particularly in a comedy that thrives on its auditory quirks as much as its visual gags.

The extras section of the "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" Blu-ray delivers a satisfying mix of content for fans and newcomers alike. Deleted Scenes and Outtakes offer a glance at what didn't make the final cut, with the latter providing genuinely amusing moments contrary to the often tepid nature of such material. On Set with Dame Edna, despite a slow start, transforms into an enjoyable segment once it finds its rhythm. The Promotional Featurettes cover a vast array of topics from the film's fashion to its notable cameos and the international legacy of "Absolutely Fabulous," albeit in a format that echoes standard electronic press kit (EPK) fare. Notably, the dual Legacy featurettes appear somewhat redundant. The Gallery, with its Auto and Manual Advance options, along with the crisp Theatrical Trailer, round out the offerings. Despite some segments offering just a surface-level dive, there's enough here to enrich the viewing experience and deepen appreciation for the production.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Additional unused clips from the movie.
• Outtakes: A collection of humorous slip-ups during filming.
• On Set with Dame Edna: Behind-the-scenes footage featuring Dame Edna.
• Promotional Featurettes: Various short segments covering aspects of the movie's production and themes.
• Gallery: A compilation of stills from the film that viewers can browse.
• Theatrical Trailer: The official movie trailer.

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" transitions the notorious duo, Eddy (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley), from their television chaos into cinematic frenzy with mixed outcomes. The film meanders through a plethora of cameos and slapstick scenarios, primarily focusing on the aging pair's desperate attempts to retain their youth and status within the high fashion world. The narrative juggles between the absurd—such as being accused of killing supermodel Kate Moss— and attempts at emotional depth, revealing the characters' inability to gracefully accept the realities of aging and career decline. Although the movie retains the series' spirit of excessive partying and self-absorption, its translation from short episodic arcs to a feature-length format introduces pacing issues that dilute the comedic impact.

Technical aspects of the film deserve mention, maintaining the visual flair and frenetic energy reminiscent of the series. While the movie benefits from high production values and seamless editing, it struggles to keep the viewer consistently engaged, oscillating between moments of hilarity and sequences that feel overstretched. The inclusion of numerous cameos, perhaps more resonant with a British audience, alongside familiar faces such as Saffy (Julia Sawalha), Mother (June Whitfield), and Bubble (Jane Horrocks), provides a nostalgic treat for fans but may alienate newcomers.

For aficionados of "Absolutely Fabulous," the film serves as a bittersweet reunion with much-loved characters, offering glimpses of their iconic mischief but failing to wholly capture the sharp wit and biting humor that defined the series. Newcomers might find the characters’ relentless pursuit of youth and fame tiring after a while, underscoring the challenge of expanding a cult TV show into a feature film. The movie fluctuates between brilliance and excess, suggesting that some adventures are best savored in smaller doses.

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" presents a polarizing cinematic outing that may divide audiences depending on their preexisting familiarity with the iconic duo, Edina Monsoon (Eddy) and Patsy Stone. While the film does deliver its promises of humor, echoing the extravagant and oftentimes overzealous antics of its protagonists, it potentially sails too close to the wind for those not already enamored with their chaotic lifestyle. To its credit, the movie undoubtedly shines in its technical execution. The Blu-ray release from 20th Century Fox boasts an impeccable A/V presentation that could easily serve as a benchmark for quality, ensuring that, visually and audibly, fans receive nothing short of an excellent home viewing experience.

However, this release isn't without its shortcomings. The supplementary features, though plentiful, might leave something to be desired, especially considering the missed opportunity for a commentary track by Saunders and Lumley, which could have added significant value and insight for fans. Thus, while "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" on Blu-ray stands out for its superior playback quality, the lack of substantial extras slightly diminishes the overall package's appeal. That said, for devoted followers of Eddy and Patsy's exploits, these factors may do little to deter their enjoyment of the film.

In conclusion, "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" on Blu-ray skillfully captures the essence of the television series' charm through an outstanding A/V presentation but falls a tad short in providing a fully rounded package due to the extras' lack of depth. It comes recommended primarily for those with an existing affinity for the series' brand of humor. Newcomers and casual fans should perhaps approach with caution, understanding that the film's content—and by extension, its home release—caters first and foremost to its established base.