Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

      PG-13 2000 1h 20m Comedy List
      Reviews 78% 250+ Ratings Audience Score A widow (Judi Dench) tries to reassemble an all-girl swing band in which she played during World War II. Read More Read Less Watch on Max Stream Now

      Where to Watch

      The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

      Max

      Watch The Last of the Blonde Bombshells with a subscription on Max.

      Audience Reviews

      View All (24) audience reviews
      Audience Member This is a flashback movie to a time and place that was WWII London. The protagonist, now a grandmother, is first seen enduring her deceased husband's funeral. A dreary opening it most assuredly is not. She has led a rather safe, staid and boring life of mother and housewife since the war, in contrast to when as a teenager she was the lead tenor saxophonist in an all-girl dance band (why? because all the male musicians were gone to war). She was "the youngest, the sweetest, and the most talented of the Blonde Bombshells", avers Betty the bandleader. After her husband's death, she turns to busking with a young male guitarist, to the chagrin of her stuffy children who look askance at their mother's musical adventuring as beneath the dignity of an elderly gentlewoman. I invite you see what mother Judi Dench's response is to her children. Just you wait and see! She chances to meet up with the drummer from the Bombshell band, and the two of them begin to hunt down their wartime colleagues in an effort to reunite the band. So, it is back and forth between the present and past, with sidekick granddaughter Joanna's character being central to the story's progress. Joanna is the only one who truly "gets" her grandmother, is completely in awe of her, encourages her grandmother's bold enterprises, and has a bond with her grandmum even stronger than with her own mother and uncle, who have grown up to be more like their "responsible" (read, boring) father. I don't want to spoil this movie for you with any further scenarizing. In short, this is an absolutely delightfully effervescent piece of comic historical fiction theatre that is full of good spirits, nostalgia for a very real period in British and world history, and overflowing with heart-warming emotion. It absolutely bears repeat viewing to the point of quotability, so pithy is the script. Do yourself a favor and acquaint yourself with this splendid length of celluloid that is one of Dame Judi's most memorable contributions to motion picture culture. Period. Is that enough of a rave? Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Judi Dench is remarkable as always, but this movie fell a little flat due to relying on the music a bit too much and not telling enough story. It didn't feel like a realistic picture of aged singers or stars of that time. My Mom grew up in that time in London, and I remember her singing some of the songs in this movie! Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review jennifer p One more reason why they are known as the "greatest generation." Ordinary people entertaining under extraordinary circumstances. Good movie and a poignant look back at times past; and the music; was there ever any better? Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Dame Judi Dench is so wonderful in everything she does. This was a delightful movie. The 50-year-flash-backs were handled exceptionally well. The current year story-line was not interfered with, and was very enjoyable. Nice movie! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member It is a piece of brilliance ! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member The movie was average but as usual, Judi Dench was fabulous! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      Photos

      View All The Last of the Blonde Bombshells photos

      The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

      The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (1) Critics Reviews
      John Leonard New York Magazine/Vulture Although we may have hoped for transcendence, we should be grateful for a last hurrah. Feb 6, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A widow (Judi Dench) tries to reassemble an all-girl swing band in which she played during World War II.
      Director
      Gillies MacKinnon
      Producer
      Simon Wright
      Screenwriter
      Alan Plater
      Production Co
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists
      Rating
      PG-13, TV-PG
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 30, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 20m
      Most Popular at Home Now