Overview: Recently widowed well-to-do Laura Henderson is at a bit of a loose end in inter-war London. On a whim she buys the derelict Windmill theatre in the West End and persuades impresario Vivian Van Damm to run it, despite the fact the two don't seem to get on at all. Although their idea of a non-stop revue is at first a success, other theatres copy it and disaster looms. Laura suggests they put nudes in the show, but Van Damm points out that the Lord Chamberlain, who licenses live shows in Britain, is likely to have something to say about this. Luckily Mrs Henderson is friends with him.

DVD Verdict: There's something about the aristocratic English that always seems to make for a good story. There is an expectation to uphold a certain behavior, and when that behavior isn't upheld, it crosses over into the absurd, and always makes for a funny, and interesting story. This is what most directors who deal with this subject matter often believe. 'Mrs. Henderson Presents', a film about a wealthy widow who does just that, misbehaves, but in one of the most respectable fashions one can. Unlike other unsuccessful films in this genre, Mrs. Henderson has a little soul, and actually gives some dignity and humanity to it's main characters. Dame Judi Dench stars as Laura Henderson, a real-life English widow who, on a lark, decided to buy a rundown London showhouse, the Windmill Theater, and restore it to its former glory. The comedy ensues, as we watch all the ups and downs of someone who knows absolutely nothing about theater, try to run a theater. Director Stephen Frears and screenwriter Martin Sherman never settle on a consistent tone, and they make some odd choices regarding character screen time (for example, we never really get to know the Windmill's real star played by British pop star Will Young). Dench's prickly performance makes the film watchable, especially when her character is feuding with Bob Hoskins. And it's always fun to see Christopher Guest ("A Mighty Wind," "Waiting for Guffman"), even when it's not in his own material. Although most of the supporting characters are two-dimensional and used perfunctorily, this movie is highly enjoyable thanks to the splendid musical numbers and the indomitable Judi's performance, not to mention the gorgeous naked women. Watching this film, and its eccentricities, was a joy, and a laugh riot until the film takes a bit of a serious turn, and we are reminded in a rather formulaic way that what goes up must come down. In this formula however, we are still motivated. We still care, and it is done which such subtle flair and nuance so as to keep us caring about the fate of our main protagonists. War arrives and what has become a symbol of underground entertainment now becomes a place where soldiers take refuge. The movie takes an uneven tone from here on because it has to accommodate more dramatic events, set aside the more comedic ones, and keep up with the musical it also is. It's not an easy thing to do, but Frears manages to blend the three, in the great scene when bombers begin attacking London as the Windmill is in full performance. There is an act of defiance Maureen (Kelly Reilly), the only one of the dancers who gets a storyline in the movie, makes as she "gives them the finger" and poses like it were opening night. It's a moment of dramatic strength, emotional triumph, with a hint of a wink here and there -- the essence of what it must have been like to live in that period of time. A snappy, if sometimes too-hurried pace, will keep your attention throughout. In terms of the energy level, it reminded me of the all-star propaganda musicals made in the '40s to boost morale during the war. Any fan of the 30's musical will truly be tapping their toes along with some of the musical numbers. 'Mrs Henderson Presents' ends with a whimper after its sparky opening. Stephen Frears' direction is a little more anonymous (than his previous films) and his handling doesn't ever look likely to lift the film out of the lethargic state it adopts halfway through. The film looks smart, with the hazy cinematography evoking a bygone age, and the CGI-enhanced vision of London is realistic enough, but the glossy exterior can't hide the fact that this is an emotionally dry and less-than-powerful film which clearly uses up all of its inspiration at a very early stage. Judi Dench almost manages to lift the whole enterprise single-handedly with her smashing display; but it's a film which needs more than one firecracker performance to salvage it. Amused throughout, I knew I was being moved and manipulated, but like the old sets from back then, you learn to accept it and appreciate the art. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

Commentary by director Stephen Frears
Making-of Featurette
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)