Movie review
July 1, 2016 · 91 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie is a 2016 comedy spin-off of the long-running British TV series. It follows aging PR agent Edina Monsoon and her best friend Patsy Stone as they cause chaos at a fashion party, get blamed for an incident with Kate Moss, and flee to the French Riviera to chase permanent luxury. The film delivers the same over-the-top, self-absorbed antics and celebrity satire that defined the original show. A minor subplot mocks a character’s gender transition with crude jokes, and one supporting role drew pre-release yellowface accusations that the filmmakers called part of the satire.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie.
Woke representation / casting
Main cast matches the established older white British female characters from the TV series with no forced diversity, gender/race swaps, or identity signaling; one supporting role drew yellowface accusations but was a deliberate satirical Scottish character, not a diversity push.
Woke political dialogue
No explicit activist speeches or left-wing messaging; a minor subplot uses crude, mocking humor about a gender transition rather than affirming or exploring identity politics.
Identity-driven story themes
Story focuses on two women’s chaotic, self-destructive friendship and hedonism with no arcs centered on gender, race, sexuality, or modern social justice; characters remain comically flawed rather than empowered icons.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Light, affectionate satire of fashion, celebrity, and rich excess without modern activist framing of patriarchy, capitalism, toxic masculinity, or systemic Western flaws.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant; original story that continues the TV series without altering established characters for ideological reasons.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Pre-release yellowface accusation from Margaret Cho received coverage but represented progressive complaints about insufficient or offensive representation rather than claims the film pushed woke agendas; no significant “too woke” backlash emerged and some humor targeted identity topics crudely.
Creator track record context
Jennifer Saunders has expressed left-leaning political opinions on Brexit and populist figures and acknowledged woke culture’s impact on comedy, but her core work emphasizes un-PC boundary-pushing satire; key crew members (Fletcher, Plowman, editors) have long records in traditional British comedy with minimal to no activist or identity-driven history; producer Damian Jones has backed some diverse UK stories but without strong activist patterns.
Production
