CS Weekly Archive > DVD > 5/30/08

Style and Substance Abuse

by jason davis

Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything

Jennifer Saunders

Inspired by a sketch performed on the series French and Saunders (and included as a supplement here), Absolutely Fabulous details the vacuous adventures of fashion victim and trend chaser Eddie Monsoon (series creator Jennifer Saunders) as she stumbles drunkenly through life.  Her best friend, burnt-out fashion model Patsy Stone (Joanna Lumley) serves as Eddie’s id and gets her into one predicament after another, while Eddie's responsible daughter Saffron (Julia Sawalha) serves as a surrogate super-ego, trying to keep her on the straight and narrow.  A brutal satire of people desperate to be fashionable, but completely incapable of understanding the intricacies of the fashion in question, Saunders’ scripts don’t so much laugh with Eddie and Patsy as at them.  With five seasons and half a dozen specials spread out over a 12-year run, BBC Video’s Absolutely Everything collects every installment of the series into one overblown collection of debauchery.  Saunders offers commentary on several of the episodes, and a number of sketches from French and Saunders showcase the development of her comedy over the last two decades.

Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything
BBC Video

Not rated; 1,186 min.

$129.98

Buy it now

Jason Davis has been the DVD Manager for CS Weekly, a contributing editor for Creative Screenwriting Magazine, and has written for Cinescape.com, MSN.com, and created the TV series Studio 13, which ran on Lorne Michaels' Burly TV network. He lives in the small space left over by his ever-expanding library of books, movies, and music.

Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything courtesy BBC Video

From the Trenches
Working screenwriters discuss in their own words a particular aspect of screenwriting, from the mechanics of writing to the personal and professional impact that writing has had on their lives. > VIEW ARCHIVE

The Big Picture

Features that cover all aspects of screenwriting, from our "Seven Best" lists to analysis of old favorites and new classics. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Weekend Read
Film, book, web site and technology reviews from a writer’s perspective. How can these items help a writer on his or her journey, or make that journey more enjoyable? > VIEW ARCHIVE

DVD Review of the Day
DVD reviews from a writer’s point of view. What aspects of this script and features of this DVD illuminate the writing, development, and storytelling process? > VIEW ARCHIVE