by Frank Calvillo
At this point in her career, there simply isn’t a role or a project that the legendary British comedienne Jennifer Saunders wouldn’t, or hasn’t, tackled. She has tried to break up Fiona and Shrek as the malicious fairy godmother, angered Phoebe enough to want to start a fight on Friends, and impersonated Ginger Spice in a Spice Girls music video years before writing a West End musical based on their songs. However it will be the role of Edina Monsoon, the drunken publicist on the long-running British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, which will forever be atop Saunders’ extremely varied professional legacy. Now, with the release of Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Saunders has offered up a fitting end to a beloved staple of English comedy, while once again proving herself to be one of the most unique voices in the business.
In Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Edina is back with her best friend Patsy (Joanna Lumley) for more boozing and partying. However, the carefree lifestyle the two enjoy has hit a snag when it’s discovered that Edina is out of money and, according to her long-suffering daughter Saffron (Julia Sawalha), things need to change. When Patsy hears inside information about supermodel Kate Moss looking for a new publicist, the two hatch a plan to lure her into Edina’s client roster. Things go quickly awry when Edina accidentally pushes Kate into the Thames river at a high-profile fashion event, which leads many to suspect that she’s died, making Edina the most hated woman in the country. In an effort to escape death threats and jail time, Edina and Patsy head for the South of France where more adventure and trouble await them.
From the film’s start, it becomes clear that a great deal of the film is a hilarious send off of the celebrity culture in Britain. With a culture so seeped in trends, buzz, and an over-the-top existence, it’s no wonder Saunders and director Mandie Fletcher couldn’t resist painting a definitely heightened and hilarious portrait of celebrity London. Playfully tongue-in-cheek moments such as Patsy’s perpetually angry high-powered boss (Kathy Burke) berating an assistant who says her car is right outside with, “Helicopter! I don’t do traffic!” and famed model Jerry Hall spending what seems like an eternity telling a trapped reporter how much she loves Chanel are met with howls of laughter.
None of it would work without the use of some game celebrity cameos from some of the most high-profile names in London, all of whom prove good sports. With a roster that includes Joan Collins, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Emma “Baby Spice” Bunton, Lily Cole, Kate Moss, Lulu, Graham Norton, and Stella McCartney, among many others, the guest list is endless.
Maybe it’s because of this culture that there is a certain theme throughout about keeping the party going as Patsy and Edina try so desperately to remain trendy and relevant in the face of changing times and, in the latter’s case, the fact that she was never popular to begin with. That, I can only guess, is the core appeal of the character; Edina has always been someone trying so desperately to be part of the in-crowd and wants it happen in her own way. Anyone who has ever felt the need to belong and be part of the clique can certainly relate to Patsy and Edina’s longtime quest.
Ultimately though, it’s the friendship shared between the two women which makes up the heart of Absolutely Fabulous. Yes, the two enable each other’s worst habits: drinking, pill-popping and living far beyond their means. And yet, the bond shared between the two of them is so unbreakable, it’s almost inspiring. After Edina “kills” Kate Moss, Patsy’s instinct isn’t to distance herself from her friend in an effort to save face. What does she do instead? She joins Edina in a plan to leave the country, look up an old flame with the hopes of marrying him, and share his fortune with her best friend. While she’s clearly making herself an accomplice in the process, she feels it’s worth it because Patsy knows Edina would be doing the exact same if the situations were reversed. It’s a warped and toxic friendship for sure, but its also one which will stand the test of time.
By this point in their lives and careers, playing Patsy and Edina should be second nature to Lumley and Saunders, and oh how they show it. The two are so completely skilled at playing the characters they helped shape over the years that there isn’t a single flaw to be found in their work. Both actress share enough chemistry and passion for the project that old fans could never accuse them of phoning it in as new ones find themselves taken with them for the first time.
Full disclosure: I have never seen the original series on which this movie is based on. My one experience with Patsy and Edina came courtesy of a guest spot on Roseanne when the title character and her sister encountered the pair at an upscale New York party. While the show’s final season was more miss than hit, the episode stood out thanks to the performances of Saunders and Lumley and the reckless abandon with which they attacked their characters. Twenty years on, it’s refreshing to see that the two skilled and seasoned comediennes clearly haven’t even begun to skip a beat.
