Are You Being Served?

This film is slightly disappointing as unlike the series, there's far more slapstick "Carry On" style hijinks and not as many jokes. Still I can't deny that it doesn't have it's moments especially after the notes get passed around. Still one really misses the series trademarks and the fact that the cast are only briefly at the store.

This big screen outing for the employees of Grace Bros. sees Mrs. Slocombe (Mollie Sugden) delivering her first pussy gag within the opening few minutes ("Would you mind holding my pussy?"), which is as it should be, the film giving fans of the TV series exactly what they expect. On the menu: bedroom farce (or should that be 'bed-tent' farce?), sexist humour, xenophobia, homophobic comedy, racial stereotypes, and some quality crumpet. Don't bother watching if you're a PC millennial - this will prove too upsetting for your delicate sensibilities - but those who can appreciate '70s comedy in all of its wonderful, unpolitically-correct glory should have a lot of fun as Grace Bros.' staff cause chaos on a Mediterranean holiday (while the department store is closed for redecoration).

Much like Carry On Abroad (1972), which saw the Carry On team embarking on a package holiday to Spain, Are You Being Served?: The Movie transports the TV show's regular characters to the Costa Plonka, where sun, sea, sangria and sex are the order of the day. Much hilarity ensues as the staff let their inhibitions go and try to satisfy the carnal desires that they've been suppressing for so long. The humour doesn't always work, especially with the lack of live audience laughter, but there are enough comedic gems throughout to keep avid fans of the show happy: a pair of chattering clockwork teeth find their way inside a mannequin's trunks with hilarious results, a hairy caterpillar gives Mr. Humphries (John Inman) a shock, Andrew Sachs adapts his Manuel routine for the role of hotel manager Don Carlos, and Mr. Humphries gets to dress in drag, not once, but twice (disguising himself as Mrs. Slocombe and a nun). Wendy Richards (as Miss Brahms) and Sugden get the funniest lines: "I wouldn't mind if he wasn't so bleedin' common", "We're having it continental style", and "I usually give my pussy an airing this time of night".

As for the crumpet... Miss Nicholson (Penny Irving), Mr. Grace's sexy secretary, is stunning, and Conchita (Karan David), the gorgeous hotel servant girl, could clack my castanets any day of the week (interestingly, both actresses appeared in Pete Walker's sleazy 1974 horror House of Whipcord, helping to make that film one of my favourite British horrors of the decade).

6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.

I watched this film last night on a free DVD given away with a national newspaper and i have to say my wife and i I ENJOYED IT! Yes,it has oodles of cheese and camp moments but it was fun.I love the funky,Are you being served? opening theme tune at the beginning and the movie feel picture quality.Yes,the script is dodgy but not as dodgy as the Costa Plonka in a studio with cheap sets and the pretty abrupt ending with young Mr Grace storming through the hotel wall in an armoured vehicle dressed like he has just stepped out of Dad's Army! I never really cared much for the series only having seen a few episodes so i wasn't affected by the repeat joke syndrome so i found the film really amusing.Menswear!

OK, it's creaky, incredibly dated, and the sets (or was there just one set?!) are wobbly, but that's all part of the charm. It's also quite perceptive of the attitude of the British abroad, that still persists to this day. My friends and I always seem to end up quoting from this film when we go abroad!

The best scene has to be when the myopic Ernest Grainger, who's never been on a plane before, enters what he thinks is the lavatory (it's actually the cockpit). 'Oh, I'm sorry - will you be long?' he says to the pilot. 'About two hours' replies the pilot. 'Oh dear- I'll go to the other end' replies Mr Grainger. Absolutely priceless!

This big screen outing of Are You Being Served is not as loved as the series is but it still features the original (and by far the best) cast at the top of their game and features lots of laugh out loud moments.

The film struggles to adapt with not having the laughter track behind and the jokes are left hanging because of it. Without it the piece doesn't flow as it could which is a shame because the jokes do come thick and fast.

Also some routines that have previously been used in the series are recycled but they are worth another viewing because they are so good.

Overall a good rarely seen film that is well worth a look for those who already know the series and for those just discovering it.