This movie is a treat for the eyes with gorgeous Scottish locations, stylishly detailed costumes, stately summer palaces, and consists of many professional performances. It's good to see Dame Dench give a strong performance following some by-the-numbers of late. It also holds the attention for most of its run time by offering a tell-tale story of a little known relationship between this long reigning Queen, with a randomly selected Indian - who was one of two 'local subjects' brought to England to present her with a specially minted gold coin - as token of appreciation from British ruled India. The close relationship that follows between her and one of the guest presenters tends to become perhaps a little too romanticised for the level of believability expected of its audience. Victoria's Burqa comments made at her first sight of Abdul's wife - seem far too 'fanciful' if not highly doubtful.

It's more like a case of this older woman maybe being mesmerized by the mystical East or the BBC perhaps, following a mandate to sell a political message of Muslim cleansing to the British populace and the world. Either way there's a feeling that, at its core, maybe lays a major thread of PC manipulation. If you can brush this aside you'll enjoy a well-made tale of highly unusual interracial fascination but, there remain other odd facts to overcome. As head of the Church of England this Queen is allowed to slowly die - without a representative of her church being in attendance - highly suspect if this is being claimed as true! The introductory credits tell us; "This story is based on real events...well, mostly". Make of that what you will.

'Victoria and Abdul' appealed to me straight away, being someone who likes-loves a lot of biopics, considers Judi Dench a national treasure and who has liked several of director Stephen Frears's films. While it is not a perfect film, let alone quite an extraordinary one, 'Victoria and Abdul' generally did not disappoint and tells the tale of an unlikely friendship very absorbingly.

As indicated, there are a couple of things that don't quite come off successfully. There were instances to me where the knockabout comedy was a little too enthusiastically written and delivered, particularly in a few of the imperial members of the court and their attitudes (occasionally teetering on the near-patronising). Simon Callow has fun as Puccini, but the man is presented somewhat as a caricature that could have been toned down.

There are also instances of the dialogue being a touch too modern, Bertie does have moments of clichéd dialogue that takes one out of the setting somewhat and borders close on making too much of a pantomime villain. 'Victoria and Abdul' has been criticised for the politics, the portrayal of the title characters and the portrayal of colonialism being too generous, or "white-washed", as pathetic as this may seem that wasn't as big a problem to me, being not as knowledgeable in those areas, regarding the characters the performances were too good for that to be considered a problem to me.

However, 'Victoria and Abdul' has a lot going for it. It is a beautiful film visually, the cinematography has a warm glow and boasts hues that give off a nostalgic quality. The costumes and locations settings are vivid and sumptuous. Thomas Newman has shown many times that he can write hypnotic and understated scores that evoke rousing and emotive qualities, he brings those qualities fabulously here. Stephen Frears directs with a gentle touch and keeps things as lively and compelling as possible.

Frears and screenplay writer Lee Hall (although as said the script is not always perfect) also do a good job balancing comedy and drama and making the characters interesting (even if some are more developed than others, personally found the titular characters very vividly depicted while a couple like Puccini are underdeveloped). Most of the comedy is genuinely funny, wonderfully mischievous and slyly pointed, particularly in the first half where some of the lines make one laugh out loud. The comedy is balanced beautifully with a more serious, but not jarringly so, second half that soars in pathos and emotion that does tug at the heart strings. The ending is very touching.

Story-wise, this unlikely friendship and relatively unknown chapter in the relatively late stages of Victoria's life/reign is absorbing, going at a lively pace while maintaining a gentle and well balanced tone. The lack of depth is more than made up for in the sweet chemistry between Dench and Ali Fazal, the comedy and drama and that the film is uplifting and poignant in equal measure.

Judi Dench as expected is magnificent, achieving an achingly vulnerable and spirited portrayal which helps make Victoria easy to relate to and remarkably real, despite any misgivings people have of how she is written in context in the story. Ali Fazal matches her very well, he is very charming and loyal and gives the character an intensity and gentle charisma, don't agree about him being too servile, too eager or overly wilful though can understand that for him being a little too twinkly.

Michael Gambon and the late Tim Piggott Smith are very good too, and Callow has fun although Puccini doesn't quite work. Eddie Izzard has to work with the least flattering and one-dimensional depiction of Bertie Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) imaginable, but remarkably he fits well and gives everything to his performance, remarkably just about preventing the character from being too much of a pantomime villain despite how the role is written coming dangerously close (the dialogue doesn't always do him justice).

Overall, absorbing if not extraordinary. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox

It's 1887 Agra, India. Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) is a clerk in the local jail. Due to his height, he is picked to present Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) with a mohur for her Jubilee. He is eager for the prestigious opportunity although the other presenter is the much shorter and angry Mohammed. During the ceremony, Abdul makes forbidden eye contact with the Queen and she is taken with the tall dark stranger. She befriends him and makes him her Munshi which raises the concern of the court especially the heir Bertie, Prince of Wales (Eddie Izzard).

The idea of the legendary Queen being taught by an Islamic scholar is profound history. This could be powerful with good tension and high drama. To achieve that, the movie has to hit precisely with Abdul. To me, he's played as too childlike. There is a way to do excitement without being childish. It diminishes his character which makes his lies more childlike. He needs nobility which is only partly there. Judi Dench is obviously a great actress and playing the Queen is well within her range. There is a powerful scene with her professing her loneliness. It would be more powerful if the tone isn't so light. Director Stephen Frears is trying to be too cute by half. The cutesy touches combine to lighten the much needed darker tension.