This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

It is rare that one finds a film that is a comedy, drama and musical all in one and great in all genres. The humor is seriously funny, the drama very dramatic and sad at times, and the musical element vibrant, flamboyant and daring. The film simply would not have been the same without Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins in the lead. They are FANTASTIC together! I thought Will Young was also very good, and he even gave us a peek-a-boo at his bum! (Well, erm, Bob Hoskins did more than that...). All elements of the film work in perfect harmony to bring a thoroughly enjoyable masterpiece. This is one of my all-time favorite films.

Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005): Dir: Stephen Frears / Cast: Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Christopher Guest, Kelly Reilly, Toby Jones: Provocative yet overrated drama about hope. After her husband passed away Mrs. Henderson opens a theatre called the Windmill with the services of Mr. Van Dam. They decide to present their plays and musicals featuring nude women. Intriguing idea descends into repetition and an ending that seems wayward from a certain viewpoint. Director Stephen Frears is aided by fantastic early century sets. Frears previously directed such great films as High Fidelity and Dirty Pretty Things. He is a director who can transcend any genre and succeeds here as well despite the film not hailing as high in quality as those previously mentioned. Judi Dench delivers a flawless performance as Henderson and Bob Hoskins is great as Mr. Van Dam whose views are not always supported by her. Their representation of nudity and entertainment may call for discussion or discernment depending on one's view. Supporting roles by Christopher Guest and Kelly Reilly aren't very broad. What does work here is an interesting view of early controversial theatre in terms of its introductory of pornography. Although Mrs. Henderson didn't present a good screenplay, She did celebrate early theatre and the pondering of morality. Score: 6 / 10

This movie pulls on the heartstrings even though the two leads are cantankerous old birds (Dench and Hoskins) who snipe at each other with great wit and energy. It tells the story of a Windmill Theatre in the London West End through incarnation after incarnation it is forced into to stay afloat. There is lots of music of many genres, dancing and female nudity, and more female nudity.WWII sneaks up on them. It is all the more horrible the way it imposes itself, hurting innocent people, even though nobody had any political or military interest.The movie ends with some Andrews sisters and Vera-Lynn style music affirming the war will end and they will prevail. Outside the streets are filled with rubble. The music is full of love and hope, nothing at all about getting even or killing the Germans.It focuses on the minor emotional trials of war, and less on being blown to bits. It is closer to ordinary life, and hence got under my skin more easily.The main problem with the movie is they treat the female actresses as furniture. Their sole job is to sit like statues (required by the Lord Chamberlain) stark naked. Bertie is only male dancer/singer. Yet we learn nothing of his private life. He is handsome and charming, so the lack of story seems odd. They could have clipped a few of the less spectacular dance numbers to drop a few hints.

London, late 1930s: A recently widowed elderly Mrs. Henderson (Judi Dench) is bored with the ordinary upper class widow's life and buys an old theater called the Windmill on a whim. Together with director Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) she creates an initially successful musical revue, but soon finds out that something more is needed to keep the show interesting. Inspired by the legendary Moulin Rouge in Paris, they come up with the idea of using immobile nude actresses in their shows and attract huge popularity, but the impending World War 2 casts a dark shadow over the joyful cast and crew of the Windmill.There is a lot to like in the film: the sets, props and costumes are carefully created and the musical numbers are catchy and fun. We also get to see a good deal of the once-controversial nudity, but it is not the main appeal of the movie by any means since it is either artistic posing or comedic strolling between the shows. Most of the comedy is provided by Judi Dench's lovable performance as the seemingly fussy but determined Mrs. Henderson and her comical arguing with the often frustrated director Van Damm. In addition to the obvious but restrained attraction between the two, the plot also follows the story of Maureen (Kelly Reilly), one of the actresses who gets involved with a young soldier Bertie (Will Young) on Henderson's suggestion.Despite the film's comedic approach to the partly true story, darker themes are also examined. The effect of the War has a more or less direct effect on the theater crew, as Mrs. Henderson has lost her only son in the previous World War and can see his memory in the young soldiers who now frequent her theater. Ultimately such melancholic character traits and the message about perseverance and the futility of war are left pretty trivial though, probably to not distract from the fun too much. In the end, Mrs. Henderson Presents remains a light comedy with entertaining music and plenty of British charm, but not much more. It's a very watchable film in any case, and I recommend it to any fan of music-filled comedies and history of musical theater.