A British drama in which a female comedian works the Northern working mens' club circuit during the 1970s and 1980s.
A fractured jumble of a fictional rise-to-fame (sort of) story that’s held together by a powerhouse performance from Maxine Peake.
Like Funny Cow herself, the film possesses enough swagger to paper over at least some of the cracks and, thanks to the stirring soundtrack and equally affecting central performance, benefits from a generous helping of northern soul.
Funny Cow is one of the best British features of the year so far: an abrasive, tender and continually surprising affair whose comic moments sit next to scenes of irredeemable bleakness.
The sketchy script is blunt at times but there are some cracking scenes.
Funny Cow takes the sad clown cliché to such a grim extreme it becomes almost laughable.
Maxine Peake is magnificent in Adrian Shergold’s unflinching drama about a standup on the 70s northern club circuit.
General release. Check local listings for show times.