French critics aren't mad for Ab Fab movie

Absolument Fabuleux, the French film version of the gay cult fave Britcom Absolutely Fabulous, opened Wednesday to mostly scathing reviews from Gallic critics, reports BBC News. Le Parisien wrote that fans of the show "will be disappointed by this adaptation, which can be summed as a pale copy of the original. Some of the scenes are funny, but most are too labored and do not succeed in reaching the hilarity so present in the series." Claims La Liberation: "[Director Gabriel Aghion] diminishes what was one of television's most deliciously trash series. His adaptation of the off-the-wall English original is a failure." Most critics agreed, however, that Nathalie Baye's portrayal of the beehived, sex-mad Patsy was a triumph, with Le Parisien praising her as "wonderful." The film got raves from one important observer, however: Series creator Jennifer Saunders wrote a glowing review on the film's Web site, saying, "It is totally hilarious and full of sensational gags: Josiane [Balasko, who plays Edina] and Nathalie are hugely talented and extremely funny." Absolument Fabuleux makes its North American debut in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.