Mrs Henderson Presents

Mrs Henderson's (Judy Dench) husband has recently deceased. Mourning though she is, she can't help blaming her late husband for his "inconsideration" to leave her in the boredom of widowhood. After some painful soul searching and experiments, the restless Mrs Henderson spots a desolated theatre in West End and decides to restore it to its past glory. Oblivious to the theatre business, she entrusts the operation to a Mr Van Damm (Bob Hoskins), or Mr Damn Van when she's crossed. The two then begins a successful yet torrid partnership marked with endless bickers, grudging mutual respect and unspoken love. Windmill Thearter is an instant sensation with its chirpy musical numbers. But its recipe of success is soon copied by competitors, and with the audiences' expectations ractched up, Mrs Henderson decides to put nude performers on stage to spice things up a little! She manages to convert first Mr Van Damm into a believer of all-nude revues, and then cajoles the uptight Lord Chamberlian (who is known for banning the word "erection" to be used in Samuel Beckett's renowned play "Waiting for Godot" when it was first performed in London) into greenlighting her licentious endeavour with her impish sense of humor. As WWII draws closer to home, Mrs Henderson refuses to shut down the theatre for reasons unselfishly noble and simultaneously private. Helmed by Stephen Frears, the film is a joy ride from start to finish. It's shot much like a musical with a string of beautiful songs delieverd by Windmill's resident crooner Bertie (Will Young), but since it's a film rather than a bond-a-fide musical, sometimes the pace feels a bit too brisk that tepid plot devices (especially the death of Maureen, one of the Windmill girls, played by the attractive Kelly Reilly) are thrown in to the effect of being slightly insensitive and reducing the impact of the pathos on screen. Nevertheless, these are just minor gripes. Judy Dench's rapport with Bob Hoskins is palpable and a joy to behold. Recommended.