The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

"An album of songs so old everyone thinks they're new." This film has the elusive combination of pace and mood that set some films apart from the opening moments. And why not? Towering talent from Dame Judith Dench as a widow who plays saxaphone with a street musician to help him get the songs right, to Olympia Dukakis as the merry widow living in a Scottish castle on the alimony of her many marriages, to Ian Holm as the drummer who loved all the members of a World War II all girl (more or less) swing band. But wait, there's more. Add in Leslie Caron on bass, and the incomparable Clio Laine on lead vocal, at last, and the Blonde Bombshells are the hottest band in England since the Beatles. Well, OK, not really, but this movie is a winner.

Elizabeth (Dench) spends the whole film trying to reunite the Blonde Bombshells to play at her granddaughter's school dance. And before you roll your eyes, imagine how difficult and courageous it would be for a bunch of sexegenarian women to step onstage in front of the Britney Spears generation following an act called "Open Wound."

In an age when actresses careers are over by the time they're 30, most bands' second album is a greatest hits compilation, and music more than a month old has almost no chance of airplay, it's great to see real talent, real music and a really good movie come from, where else, the BBC.

I love this movie, and I know I'll watch it many more times, and enjoy it more each time.

Charming in every way, this film is perfect if you're in the mood to feel good. If you love jazz music, it is a must see. If you enjoy seeing loveable characters that make you smile, can bring a tear to your eye and swing like there's no tomorrow this film is for you. If you are looking for an intense, deep, heavy piece of art to be dissected and analyzed perhaps you best stick with something by Darren Aronofsky (in other words - reviewer djjohn lighten up, don't you know a good time when you see one!) My only complaint is that the movie was just too darn short. I guess I'll just have to watch it several more times to get my fill.

A charming little film set in the UK about the reunion of a WWII all girl (almost) swing band. A fine cast of oldsters bring lighthearted perspectives on life to this fun tale with an award winning performance by Dench and Laine's always great "pipes". Time well spent and a fun watch for all.

The Blonde Bombshells were an all-British World War II jazz band/big band. It was nearly an all-girl band, too, except for Patrick (Ian Holm), the drummer. Judi Dench, a saxaphonist for the group, wishes to reunite the Blonde Bombshells for a gig at her granddaughter's school dance. The idea is slightly comparable to Penny Marshall's "A League of Their Own," except there is about even focus on both past and present whereas Marshall's film is primarily all flashback.

It is a charming little film with great performances by British (Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Leslie Caron), American (Olympia Dukakis), and Jazz heavyweights (Cleo Laine) who provide that sentimental charm and excellent humor to make this a fine film.

I have seen the Last of the Blonde Bombshells a few times now and I have loved it every time. It has a great story with greater performers giving great performances and of course, great music. This movie had it all, drama, romance, comedy and more. See it!!!