This social satire, spotty but cruelly funny in places, was director Stephen Frears and writer Hanif Kureishis ambitious re-teaming after My Beautiful Laundrette. Kureishi aims at too many targetsThatcher, yuppies, social workers, militant lesbians to hit every one, but there are good performances from an unusual cast: Frances Barber, Shashi Kapoor, Claire Bloom and singer Roland Gift in an impressive debut.
Coupled with the writings over ambitious scope is Stephen Frears brave directing, refusing to turn the other way (even in one controversial sex scene) and trying to encapsulate all of the topical fireworks here. Its an impossible feat, really, but one that sees Frears still come out with some credit despite failing to achieve it.