Critics savage French Ab Fab film

Critics have savaged a new French movie based on the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.

Parisian newspapers said the full-length film ruined the spirit of the original - a new series of which starts on BBC1 tomorrow - by toning down the coarse comedy.

Director Gabriel Aghion admitted the transition was tricky, but the mauling the film received will still come as a shock.

Libération's critic said: "He diminishes what was one of television's most deliciously trash series. His adaptation of the off-the-wall English original is a failure."

Le Parisien dubbed the movie "heavy-handed" while France Soir concluded it was "inevitably a disappointment".

The original sitcom developed a cult following in France since the pay-TV station Canal Plus first aired it in 1994.

Published: 30 Aug 2001