anthony WILLS Hugely entertaining while I watched it but I think it helps if you experienced the back-to-back streets and working men's clubs in the '70s, as I did when I was living in Leeds. I was however able to pick plenty of holes in it after the credits rolled. We weren't told what the abusive father and husband did for a living (perhaps they signed on at the job centre?), the larking about in the pub with her husband seemed a bit unlikely, her confessional sequences in the spotlight were a clumsy device, there was no follow-up to the old comic committing suicide in the toilets, we had to assume that she did so well in the clubs that she was able to buy a flashy car and a country house, the mother episodes were a bit superfluous and it did start to drag towards the end. But the performances were excellent: Maxine Peake deserves a BAFTA and the little girl who played her as a child was also terrific. Also every detail from hairstyles to dress to wallpaper was spot on. The talent show auditions were hilarious and worth the price of admission alone. Don't be too hard on it, it's a thoroughly British film with an Original Screenplay and I think it's an utter disgrace that only three cinemas in London are showing it.

PipAndSqueak Funny Cow is the insulting name given to the young woman who dreams of becoming a stand-up comedienne. She is funny and funny-peculiar. Not surprising as she has an alcoholic, neglectful and depressed mother and a foul mouthed and physically abusive father. The odd thing is that, even at a young age, Funny Cow knows her family situation is not normal. She learns effective methods to disarm the violence meted out against her - and it is the first thing she asks of the old comedian she tries to emulate. How do you rise up over the abuse? This is indeed a very interesting question and one we see Funny Cow address. However, she is still too funny-peculiar for the average person to learn much...but perhaps they should try. All the actresses playing Funny Cow at her various ages manage to merge seamlessly. Well cast, well directed and some fine acting. Only one person threatens to upstage these ladies and that is Diane Morgan whose exposure in the lead role of Cunk on Britain makes us want to see more of her here. No, it's not a funny film but, it does have some lovely one-liners. Just enough humour to compensate for the very sad tales this film depicts.

naughtysnappy Complex, funny, deeply upsetting. Unflinching depictions of misogyny, domestic violence, suicide as well as racist humour. I don't understand the comments elsewhere about two dimensional characters and the grim oop north stereotype. The mother/daughter relationship was complicated and beautiful. The protagonist compelling. The period detail was really evocative and oppressive. I also loved the various cameos and Hawley's music. I never thought I'd say I understand why the racism is there but I did. I certainly wasn't fine with the use of some really offensive words and lazy stereotypes by such a likeable protagonist (my friends and I squirmed throughout!) but having her not use those words and notions would be whitewashing over how these spaces were and how pervasive right wing attitudes were (and still are) and that I thought was really brave. Well worth watching. Peake's performance was brilliant.

nogbadthebad-20327 I've thought about this film more after seeing it than any other film I can remember. There are great performances from the central cast, and some amusing cameos, but I was drawn more to the story of Funny Cow's life. Some of it made uncomfortable watching, but I think that was the whole point.