Funny Woman

Gemma Arterton is Blackpool’s own Marilyn Monroe in Funny Woman. Like every tale made of starlet dreams – from small-time belle to big-time celebrity – the series is rife with clichés to outline the trials and tribulations of a beautiful woman from the North of England trying to make it under the harsh lights of the London acting scene. Dominated by men and perceptions of women as nothing more than pretty accessories, Barbara Parker (stage name Sophie Straw) faces endless trials, elitist and abusive men in wealth and power, catty and jealous femmes, and a Cinderella-like claim to fame.

Just like Mean Girls, Funny Woman is a feminist portrayal that doesn’t shy away from the truth of female dynamics, relationships and underhanded tactics in the grand scheme of “making it”. The balance of sincerity and efforts to uplift is highlighted in the various interactions between the women: they stick up for each other in different ways – despite initial disdain and demeaning ways of “helping out” – and there are even allusions to female currency, from clothing tips to secrets.

The production utilises a lot of scenic shots and footage with pastel and vintage colour filters to help set the tone for the time period. These are spliced in between scenes and smooth the transition from one frame to the next. Fun split screens are used creatively to enhance the quick pace of Funny Woman; furthermore, they highlight the mystique surrounding Barbara with all the side-eyes and haughty whispers, and the intricacy in people’s reactions, as seen through the collages of camera angles.

Arterton is flirtatious, witty and very charismatic, casting an alluring spell on everyone around her when she is on-screen. She affords Barbara an appeal that grounds a sense of relatability into the character – despite the fact she’s a beauty queen with luck on her side. The script is fast and fluid, incredibly clever, and the actors are excellent at bouncing jokes and jabs off each other. Line delivery is quick, not allowing viewers to breathe before a new punchline is fired. There’s also a sense of not-too-obnoxious self-awareness with lines like, “Just because ordinary working people from the North might find it funny, doesn’t mean he should put me on the show.” 

Funny Woman is exactly what the title suggests, but it’s also more than that: It’s heart and drama with a 1960s aesthetic and a main character who’s easy to fall in love with.

Mae Trumata

Funny Woman is released on Sky on 9^th February 2023.

Watch the trailer for Funny Woman here: