The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

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.

Fans of Steel Magnolias should give this one a look. All the casting is just about perfect, and the story moves forward without a single dull moment or false note. The women (Dench, Caron, Dukakis, Laine, Whitelaw, Whitfield, Sims, et al) are all fun to watch -- and Ian Holm does a fine job as the aging Lothario. And, by the way, the jazz and swing music that forms the backbone of the story is terrific -- expecially the finale with Cleo Laine cutting loose as only she can.

If you're young, young at heart, or simply love Swing music, this film will make you feel good about being that way. If you were around in the USA or England during the late 1930s or early 1940s, this film is one of the best you will ever see!

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.