I have no idea why this is one of Leigh's more iconic films. It looks and feels lazily put together (it is very much a tv production and never manages to escape that), descends in to silliness at the end and though the petty bickering is quite amusing at times for the most part I'm left wishing the film would have a bit more compassion. It has some laughs in it, is solidly acted and is perfectly watchable, but...

Ack this film dude had to transgress and get led (lead?) astray into tvLand again. (well, bbcland) The only misgiving I had with this is the ending. Besides that, I dig the ridiculously petty bickering, the mesmerizing ugliness of '70's decor, fashion, and social trends, and, above all - the ICONIC image of wimpy Lawrence dancing with gigantic, self-conscious Susan, on par with Ford's Monument Valley shots or Antonioni's "Passenger" shot. Alison Steadman ROCKS in this, as she does in EVERYTHING.

this is finally here? awesome! somebody add NUTS IN MAY. i'm too lazy.

Maybe it's because it's largely improvised by the cast but Abigail's Party doesn't quite head down the road you're expecting it to, failing to deliver on its early promises and eventually becoming really rather silly. I've no doubt it was seminal in its day, but the whole uncomfortable-situation black humour approach has been done many times and much better since.