Review | Absolutely Fabulous: 20th Anniversary Specials

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Plot: What’s it about?Video: How does it look?Audio: How does it sound?Supplements: What are the extras?

Plot: What’s it about?

It is hard to believe that it has been two decades since Absolutely Fabulous was unleashed on the world. The show followed the outrageous Edina (Jennifer Saunders), who was desperate to be thin, popular, and loved, not to mention fashionable. She and her best friend Patsy (Joanna Lumley) would indulge in extravagant shopping sprees, all the latest new age fads, and any younger men they could wrangle. All the while, Edina’s more conservative daughter Saffron (Julia Sawalha) tried to reign in the wild mother, with no real results. The series was a smash success across the world, with insane adventures, sharp social commentary, and just plain hilarious moments. In this release, we have all three of the 20th Anniversary specials, which bring us up to date with this unforgettable troupe of characters. But after twenty years of lavish lifestyles, have Edina and Patsy finally grown up or are they more materialistic and oblivious than ever before?

Not all shows can rekindle the greatness of the past with these kind of specials, but Absolutely Fabulous proves that it still has what it takes to entertain. I had a blast watching these three specials, especially since so much changed in the world and seeing Edina and Patsy trying to keep up is funnier than ever. I wondered if the economic crunch would be covered and it plays a role in the specials, but of course our favorite fashion icons aren’t too bothered. As different as things are in the real world, Edina and Patsy are still entrenched in the past and dealing with the same issues as always. Edina wants to lose weight, Patsy wants a young lover, and both are desperate to remain relevant. The balance between the beloved elements of the show and the new twists is right on the mark, so these specials will delight fans. If you’re a devoted AbFab fan, then you know you want this release, but even casual viewers will find to love with these three specials.

Video: How does it look?

The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. As expected, the shows look bright, colorful, and well detailed, with no errors to mention. The images look clean and quite clear, though of course depth isn’t up to HD levels, but we couldn’t expect that in this case. The show’s vivid visual design is well replicated, with bold colors and accurate contrast throughout. In short, these specials look excellent and fans will be most pleased.

Audio: How does it sound?

The audio is basic, but effective. The show is driven by dialogue above all else, so as long as the vocals come through well, that is what matters. And in these specials, every line of dialogue is clear and easy to understand. Some are a little slurred of course, but that is par for the course here. The music sounds lively as well, but aside from some infrequent bursts of power, this is a reserved, dialogue driven soundtrack. This disc also includes English subtitles.