Helen Mirren has been one of my favorite actresses for a very short while. It seems anything she is in is better for it. The scenery is spectacular. I can't remember the last movie I saw that had a cast who complimented each other in such a positive way. Run, don't walk to buy or rent this wonderful movie.

As a twenty-five year old male I am always a bit sceptical when my mother recommends a film, but in the case of Calendar Girls she was so adamant that I would like it that I eventually gave in to her constant quizzing as to why I still hadn't watched it.

The film is based on a true story about how a small group from the Women's Institute decided to add a bit of spice to their ordinary calendar in an attempt to raise money to purchase a sofa for the local hospital where Annie's (Julie Walters) husband John (John Alderton) lost his fight against Leukaemia. Annie's friend Chris (Helen Mirren) comes up with the idea to incorporate the old WI style calendar containing photos of cakes, knitting and the like but for her and her fellow members to pose nude in the photographs to raise the profile of the calendar and with it enough money to fund their goal.

What I liked about the film is that rather than dwell on the tragic death of John and the disease itself they concentrate on making the film a celebration of the extraordinary achievements of the women and the sales of the calendar. The story is quick into stride and after setting the scene early on, the majority of the film is dedicated to showing us how this simple idea went on to become the phenomenon throughout the whole of Britain and across the Atlantic that we now know of. Starting off as a crazy idea we see how Chris slowly convinces her friends to go along with it and we are taken on the amazing journey of how they fought for the backing of WI, over came financial obstacles, before actually making and distributing the calendar. The scenes where the women are seen posing for the calendar are excellent as you see them overcoming their nerves before getting help from the camera man in an attempt to create the perfect photo whilst still keeping their modesty behind certain items such as sticky buns, watering cans, flowers and other things you'd expect to see on a WI calendar.

The film has been given a twelve certificate and this reflects the few swear words and, despite its theme, very little nudity - the rare occasion where a nipple can be seen it is on the screen for no longer than seconds. Overall the director and writers built the film solely on a terrific story and produced a film that was as tasteful as the calendar itself. I was also pleasantly surprised at the abundance of wit throughout the whole of a film that also moved me so much.

Helen Mirren and Julie Walters play the leading ladies to perfection but are backed up by a wonderful supporting cast that includes household names such as Annette Crosbie and Celia Imrie. The DVD includes a feature on the real women that inspired this film and their delight at how close the finished article was to reality is easy to see, which for me makes it even more special.

I expect the majority of you will have heard of the real story but I can't recommend this film highly enough, it made me laugh, it made me cry, but overall was a great tribute to the women that went against the protocol and far beyond their dreams of a sofa for the local hospital.

For me the film brought back memories the death of my eldest Sister through the same disease as John. Even though I was very young at the time I remember my mother and father organising sponsored walks and other events to raise money for the fund. Whilst I'm glad my mother kept her clothes on, it made me realise how important each and every idea which results in money to help find a cure for the disease really is.

The film lasts for 108 minutes, yet it was so good it absolutely flew by - the sure sign of any good film. The extras are worth watching as well. As I've already touched on, there is some footage called the 'Naked Truth' that concentrates on the real women whose story the film is based on. This is worth watching as it really brings everything home, how this is so much more than just a film. This section lasts for around fifteen minutes and shows a series of interviews with the 'real' ladies and touches on how closely the film followed the real events.

Also worth watching is the extra 'Creating the Calendar' which is a short ten minute documentary on how the director managed to capture the same sense of tastefulness in the film calendar as the original. It also includes comments and thoughts from the leading actors and actresses on how they overcame their own nerves, similar to the real women.

The last of the bonus material are four short deleted scenes ranging from forty seconds to two minutes each. The only disappointment here is that there is no explanation as to why they were cut from the final film, although I suspect the over running of time was the main reason.

If you are expecting to see almost two hours of middle aged women getting their kit off then you'll be sorely disappointed. If, however, you are looking for a true story that shows the determination of a group of women that resulted in them raising over half a million pounds (and counting) for the Leukaemia Research Fund, based around a witty story line that will bring out every emotion in you, then this is for you. I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

**Available from CD-Wow for £13.99