I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

It is rare that one finds a film that is a comedy, drama and musical all in one and great in all genres. The humor is seriously funny, the drama very dramatic and sad at times, and the musical element vibrant, flamboyant and daring. The film simply would not have been the same without Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins in the lead. They are FANTASTIC together! I thought Will Young was also very good, and he even gave us a peek-a-boo at his bum! (Well, erm, Bob Hoskins did more than that...). All elements of the film work in perfect harmony to bring a thoroughly enjoyable masterpiece. This is one of my all-time favorite films.

I would leave it at that, but I believe I am obliged to write 10 lines. Ten lines to state the obvious? Oh, well. This is what happens when I'm not in charge.I must admit that I soon tired of this film and didn't watch the end. One of the reasons is that I found nothing humorous in this film, which is presented as a comedy. At least I never found the combination of old age and sex amusing. To me it's pathetic and embarrassing. Like the proverbial "excentric" old relative who's very sweet and all that, but it's wiser to keep out of sight, locked up somewhere. Watching the great Judi Dench prancing about, acting the naughty, profane and rude (in a most unfunny way) little old lady was painful beyond endurance. I mean, she says things like the saddest thing that could have happened to her son was not being killed in the war, but having died without seeing a pair of tits ... need I elaborate?This film has enough nudity and "sexual content" to please those who have turned postponed adolescence into a habit, or for the gullible, who are fooled into believing things like paying taxes is patriotic, or that smut can be disguised as art. If you must waste your time, there are better ways of doing it than watching this silliness.

This movie pulls on the heartstrings even though the two leads are cantankerous old birds (Dench and Hoskins) who snipe at each other with great wit and energy. It tells the story of a Windmill Theatre in the London West End through incarnation after incarnation it is forced into to stay afloat. There is lots of music of many genres, dancing and female nudity, and more female nudity.WWII sneaks up on them. It is all the more horrible the way it imposes itself, hurting innocent people, even though nobody had any political or military interest.The movie ends with some Andrews sisters and Vera-Lynn style music affirming the war will end and they will prevail. Outside the streets are filled with rubble. The music is full of love and hope, nothing at all about getting even or killing the Germans.It focuses on the minor emotional trials of war, and less on being blown to bits. It is closer to ordinary life, and hence got under my skin more easily.The main problem with the movie is they treat the female actresses as furniture. Their sole job is to sit like statues (required by the Lord Chamberlain) stark naked. Bertie is only male dancer/singer. Yet we learn nothing of his private life. He is handsome and charming, so the lack of story seems odd. They could have clipped a few of the less spectacular dance numbers to drop a few hints.

I love movies like this. Movies that tell the story of a place and the characters that occupy it. If you liked "Memoirs of a Geisha," you'll love this, especially since this film is better.Mrs. Laura Henderson (Judi Dench) has been a widow for only a few minutes, and she's already bored with it. In order to alleviate this, she buys a theater. But since she doesn't know what to do with it, she hires an out-of-work theater producer, Vivian Van Damm, to run it for her. However, these two go together worse than sandpaper and bare skin (pun intended). Still, they are successful, for a time. But when their theater starts going under, Mrs. Henderson gets an idea: nude girls. Most people know Judi Dench from her role as M in the James Bond series. But Dench has much more ability than people know, and with Mrs. Henderson, she's given a chance to prove it. Mrs. Henderson is not an agreeable person, and she's proud of it. She can be alternately stubborn, and pretty naive. But Dench imbues the character with a lot of energy and spunk, and she's a delight to watch. However, Dench also demonstrates her ability for drama in the scenes that call for pathos. her Oscar nomination was well deserved. Her co-star, Bob Hoskins, equals her. It's no surprise that he gets frustrated with Mrs. Henderson, but Hoskins gives Van Damm a handsome dose of humanity. The focus is on Mrs. Henderson, so Van Damm is not given the chance for as much depth. However, Hoskins makes Van Damm a good match for the title character. Hoskins deserved an Oscar nod for his performance. While they may frequently be at each other's throats for most of the film, we have to understand that the two characters work well together, and Hoskins and Dench have enough chemistry to make us believe it.Newcomer Kelley Reilly rounds out the main characters, as Maureen, one of the showgirls. It's a big part, but Reilly delivers. She's as witty and clever as Henderson, in fact, she's almost a dead ringer for a younger Laura Henderson. But Reilly also dives into the interior of her character, and her ability to bring out the sadness from beneath her exterior makes her much more real.Stephen Frears does a lot of good work with the material. He is as at home with drama as he is with comedy. The dramatic scenes are accomplished with an appropriate level of somberness, and he knows the concept of comic timing. In fact, some of the scenes are downright hilarious. He uses stock footage for the war scenes to set the mood, and while they accomplish the task, I don't think the concept works. That being said, it was probably done for budget constraints, so at least Frears was willing to take a chance.Still, "Mrs. Henderson Presents" is a show to see!