i hate those story that begin with a funeral and but i be afraid this one begin the day we bury george . not that we bury him . in the interest of the environment we have him incinerate . so speaks elizabeth ( judi dench ) and george widow . she lead a comfortable and predictable life with george . she have two grown child and a 12 year old grandchild . but when she be 15 and in school and in the midst of world war ii and she play the sax at night in an all girl ( almost all girl ) band call the blonde bombshell . the almost be because the drummer be patrick and a charming rogue who have no desire to fight and possibly be kill . with a yellow wig and a long red dress and makeup and patrick look almost as good a the others . one afternoon after the funeral and elizabeth find herself in the attic of her home play the sax she have put away . she use to practice and but only when george be out of the house on the golf course . then two thing happen . her granddaughter and amaze at how good elizabeth be and start talk about how the blonde bombshell could be reunite and play at her school dance . then elizabeth encounter patrick ( ian holm ) and now just as much an age oldster a elizabeth and and just as much attract to her a he be more than 50 year ago . ( he also be attract to all the other member of the bombshell . the rose that would appear on his bass drum have a special meaning that attest to his affection . ) well and why not see if the other band member can be locate and and why not give it a shot for a reunion performance at her granddaughter school . why not . one member of the band be gaga . one be dead . one be in jail . one have find salvation with the salvation army . one they can find no trace of . one be last know to be in the state . one be a professional singer and have no intention of do a school gig and even for a reunion . but one by one elizabeth and patrick bring together the survive member of the bombshell . we do not know if enough of them can be find . the rehearsal more often than not turn into off key shamble . while they do this and we share elizabeth flashback of what life be like when she and patrick be young in war time london and playing in the band while the bomb be fall . as terrible a it be and it be the most exciting time of their life . when the night of elizabeth granddaughter dance arrives and of course and the blonde bombshell and fill with jitter and renew friendship and blow the youngster away . afterwards and elizabeth informs u that the bombshell be continue to play at gig and and that she and patrick have no plan to get married . but see nothing wrong with a little fooling around . this be sentimental hogwash and expertly do and and not bad at all . what make it work be the skill and charm of judi dench and ian holm . when i hear the term and warm hearted comedy and i usually cringe unless the actor be first rate . dench and holm be wonder to watch a they take something a light weight and predictable a this script and turn it into something that charm u . then there the old broad gambit that fun if you remember the old broad . among the blonde bombshell be leslie caron and joan sims and olympia dukakis and billie whitelaw and cleo laine . laine sings three number and almost over balance the production . she be so strong and unique a jazz talent that while she sing the program nearly become the cleo laine show . another attractive feature be the number of great wwii song play in strong swing .