Victoria & Abdul

Victoria & Abdul may capture the ugly side of Britain's colonial past, but its demeaning portrait of Abdul reinforces the Orientalism it purports to lampoon.

The film's attempt to portray the Queen as more politically enlightened than her courtiers is kindly but unconvincing, and many of the actors bark and behave as if participating in a spoof.

Victoria & Abdul is worth seeing for Dench's magisterial performance and for Frears's light but sure directorial touch. Just don't mistake it for actual history.

This film - which is, we're told, "based on real events - mostly" - tells of how the elderly queen got her groove back, so to speak.

It's a neatly executed lark but one that eventually becomes ensnared in the colonialism it seeks to expose.

Whether "Victoria & Abdul" holds up to historical scrutiny is up for debate - the prologue says the film is "based on true events... mostly" - but Dench, as always, is the real deal.

Dench's performance shows that she was born to play the most popular monarchs in the history of the UK, as his second performance as Queen Victoria is a wonderful thing. [Full review in Spanish]

I'll give director Frears credit for understanding that there are few things more engaging than listening to and watching Dench simply speak, and when he concentrates on that, the film in infinitely better.

Judi Dench is fabulous as Queen Victoria. She's the reason to see this film.

Judi Dench is a force like no other on the big screen.