Rating: 
Summary: You can't do much better
Review: This movie has, great acting, beautiful scenery, a good sound track, and a wonderfuly quirky plot. What more could you ask for?
Rating:
Summary: The entire town is in on it and looking to win!
Review: Ned Devine has won the lottery --- and died of shock when he found out. Not one to let a little thing like that get in the way, his neighbor Jackie O'Shea constructs a way for the entire town to convince th elottery representative to think Ned is still alive and thus they will all get a share. Rest assured, this is no "Weekend at Bernie's" in Ireland. It's sharp and tight, with witty dialogue and well-executed scenes. There is the usual lot of local eccentrics (who seem unaware that they have counterparts in every movie made in a little village in Ireland) but, despite that annoying stereotype, it is still a good film with good performances.
Rating: 
Summary: Fine Irish comedy
Review: The inhabitants of a small Irish town conspire to claim a dead man's lottery winnings. Although I did enjoy this film quite a bit--largely due to the performances of Ian Bannen and David Kelly--it sometimes seemed too self-conscious, as if the fillmakers were very aware that quaint Irish charm was going to be a selling point of this film.
Rating:
Summary: Slanche!
Review: This movie was great. The two old best friends in this movie Jackie and Michael remind me of two 13 year old boys. The whole movie was just well made and I watch at least once a month just to cheer myself up. This movie reminds me of an Irish Toast: Here's to cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking. If you cheat, cheat death. If you steal, steal a womans heart. If you fight, fight for a brother. If you drink, drink with me!!
Rating:
Summary: Lovely, lovely...and holds up to repeated viewing
Review: I first saw Waking Ned Devine in the movie theater. I quite enjoyed it at the time but had not seen it again until just this weekend. In contrast to essentially ALL comedies I have seen in recent years, this one holds up wonderfully to repeated viewing. It was even better than the first time. Every part, from the stars O'Bannon and Kelly to the smallest walk-ons, is wonderfuly acted. I particularly liked the old sourpuss who rode the motorized cart, the pig farmer, and the young priest. They are all so multidimensional that you can imagine what they are doing when they aren't on screen. The screenplay is wonderful, and the direction is expert. I especially liked the love scenes between Maggie and the pig farmer who smells so bad that she has to stay yards away from him at all times. Imagine an affecting, humorous, and believable love scene where the participants don't even touch each other! Another plus is that this is actually a great family movie. Although it is in no way designed for kids, my 8-year-old laughed all the way through it. He especially liked the famous naked motorcycle ride! Definitely worth owning (not just renting)!
Rating:
Summary: KES Evenstar
Review: This movie takes place in a not-so-peaceful Irish village. Jackie, the main character, and the other
villagers know that one person in the village won the lottery. But when Jackie and his best friend,
Micheal, find the lottery winners body, still with a huge smile on his cold face, it creates huge amounts
of chaos and possible danger. Beware. There are elderly nudity scenes, but a very funnny almost-love-
scene to make up for it.
Rating:
Summary: "Devine"ly funny
Review: "Waking Ned Devine" doesn't have Julia Roberts or Adam Sandler in it, and that's an automatic sign of good quality. But it's the winking Irish cuteness, widespread fraud, lovable characters and tight plotting that make this movie "Devine" fun. One of the few thrills in Jackie O'Shea's (Ian Bannen) life is the lotto. And so when he and his best buddy Michael O'Sullivan (David Kelly) discover that someone in their tiny Irish village of Tullymore (population: around fifty, not including animals) has won, they go to absurd lengths to find out. After a few dead ends, they find out: kindly Ned Devine. The problem is, Ned is dead of the shock, with a lottery ticket in his hand and a silly grin on his face. That night, Jackie has a dream about Ned offering to "share the chicken," and becomes convinced that his dead buddy wants him to cash the ticket. Jackie and Michael call the lotto and claim that Ned wants to claim his money. The lotto officials duly send out a friendly representative to Tullymore -- and Michael, who has "never told a lie in his life," finds himself in Ned's house, in Jackie's clothes, pretending to be Ned. The problem? The representative plans to ask some of his fellow villagers to confirm that "Ned" is who he says he is. And so the conspiracy of lies begins to spread. That's not the entire plot, needless to say. There's a love triangle between single mom Maggie (Susan Lynch), loving pig farmer Pig Finn (James Nesbitt), and wealthy wild boy Pat Mulligan. Maggie loves Pig, but she doesn't love the smell he brings with him. There's the question of who the father of Maggie's stoic kid Maurice (Robert Hickey) is -- and be forewarned, there are some red herrings flung toward the audience. Jackie's wife Annie (Fionnula Flanagan) is less-than-pleased by these extralegal activies. And the local creepy old lady Lizzy Quinn (Eileen Dromey) is waging a one-woman war on the village of winners, because they didn't give her more than her share. The thing that makes this film work is its charming lack of seriousness. You don't really care that the people in it are committing fraud -- after all, it's what dear ol' Ned would've wanted. You merely want Jackie and Michael to succeed, for Maggie to marry Pig, and for everyone to retire rich, fat and happy. The lack of seriousness is shown in the constant jokes about fruity soaps, alcohol, nude octogenarian motorcyclists, and the funniest almost-love-scene ever. Ian Bannen is truly lovable as Jackie -- he's not perfect, he has plenty of flaws, but he's charmingly generous and honest. David Kelley is solemnly cute as Michael, whether it's tearing up at his own eulogy or biking for his life with no clothes on. Fionnula Flanagan is fully believable as his wife, showing a steadfast fire and concern for her husband, just in case he bites off more than he can chew. The main problem would be Robert Hickey. The late Ned shows more animation than this kid. Parents can probably allow their kids to watch this -- there's no sex, profanity or violence, although there is some unsexy male nudity (of the skinny-dipping variety). "Waking Ned Devine" is a comedy for people who are sick of comedies. With genuine wit and charm, this rises head and shoulders above gross-out or romantic comedies. Outrageously funny.
Rating:
Summary: Warm, Insightful Comedy
Review: Call it the luck of the Irish. Or not. This jovial fare is definitely about some kind of luck, but whether it's good or bad depends upon which side of the lottery ticket you're standing. For the title character in "Waking Ned Devine," directed by Kirk Jones, let's just say his was the kind of luck you wouldn't wish on anyone. But like a vast amount of energy floating around the cosmos looking for a place to land after leaving somewhere else, the luck that runs out for one can become the good fortune of another, at least if it happens to light in the right place and in capable hands. Which in the case of this story, could be any number of hands, all grasping wildly for that same elusive butterfly, or more precisely, as it turns out, for that fickle fly of fate. At any rate, the bunch of characters assembled here are the kind Billy Wilder or Frank Capra would've had a field day with, and they are hereby proffered by the filmmakers on hand for your, without a doubt, considerable delight and approval. And whether you're Irish or not, consider yourself lucky-- because you've just won the "Laugh Lottery," that'll leave more than just your Irish eyes smilin'. In the small (make that VERY small) community of Tulaigh Mohr (Tullymore), someone is holding the winning ticket from the last Lotto game, but of the fifty-eight or so good souls currently residing in this picturesque village by the sea, no one has yet come forth to claim the substantial prize. And, of course, it's led to speculation by the keenest minds from amongst the population, at the forefront of which is none other than himself, Jackie O'Shea (Ian Bannen), along with his good friend Michael O'Sullivan (David Kelly), who are determined to get to the bottom of it all. The raging question issuing from the Blarney Stone and flowing over into the local pub where it remains adrift like a raft of mystery atop every pint, is why hasn't the lucky sod come forward? Well then, it's up to Jackie and Michael to find out, isn't it? 'Tis. And so, in the spirit of "community," they set out to find the winner, and the sooner the better; all the quicker to latch onto whomever it is and convince him (or her) that better friends than Jackie and Michael the Maker Himself never put on the good, green earth. But who could it be? Maggie (Susan Lynch)? Pig Finn (James Nesbitt)? Or even old Ned Devine (Jimmy Keogh), who come to think of it hasn't been seen lately. And when Ned doesn't show up to a get-together at Jackie's house, catered by wife, Annie (Fionnula Flanagan), for the most likely winning-ticket-holding-suspects, Jackie decides to pay old Ned, good Ned, a visit; it just may be that there, at Ned's, Jackie will uncover the secret of this mystery. Or so he hopes. Kirk Jones has put together and delivered a film that is fun and funny, but more than that, it's a story filled with Puck-like spirit that comes at you with a twinkle in it's eye, a wink and a sidelong glance. More than anything, though, this is a character study that penetrates to the very heart of the human condition, with all it's flaws, foibles and peccadilloes; but it's permeated with a warmth and generosity of spirit that enables you to fully embrace these rascals, even as they're poking you in the ribs until your sides are sore from laughing. Overall, it's an assemblage of memorable characters and unforgettable scenes that Jones serves up on a silver platter of good will, harmony and, most importantly, a sense of everlasting hope. In one of his final roles, Ian Bannen absolutely shines as the rascally Jackie, a "character" of a character, who underneath it all has a heart as big as they come. Bannen lends a bit o' the devil to Jackie, but never lets you forget the true nature of the man within, which may not be of an entirely altruistic bent, but neither is there a drop of malice to be found in his veins. And it's what makes his portrayal so convincing; what we see is a man who is human, not a saint, maybe, but one who definitely won't be turned away from the Pearly Gates when the time comes. It's a lively performance in which Bannen exhibits a love of life and living, and it makes Jackie O'Shea an honest and very real character. And once you've seen him, you're never going to forget David Kelly as Michael O'Sullivan. He's a lovable, Capraesque kind of character who is what he is; with Michael, what you see is what you get, and Kelly brings him vibrantly to life. His "motorcycle ride" alone is worth the price of admission for this one, a scene that will be emblazoned in your memory forevermore. It's a first-rate performance from a terrific character actor, and along with Bannen's, it makes O'Sullivan and O'Shea a real pair to draw to. Adding to the merriment, as well, is the always delightful Fionnula Flanagan as Annie, a woman Irish to the bottom of her soul, a kind of kindred spirit to Maureen O'Hara's Mary Kate Danaher in "The Quiet Man." She gives her Annie spunk, and a nature that complements her Jackie effectively. Also giving noteworthy performances are Susan Lynch, as Maggie, and James Nesbitt as Pig Finn; two more characters you're not likely to forget anytime soon. The supporting cast includes Maura O'Malley (Mrs. Kennedy), Robert Hickey (O'Toole), Paddy Ward (Brendy), Eileen Dromey (Lizzy) and Dermot Kerrigan (Father Patrick). A refreshing comedy filled with some real insights and genuine humor, "Waking Ned Devine" is like a breath of fresh air in a world often choked with L.A. smog. It's a rare, entertaining treat to be savored and enjoyed again and again. And that's the magic of the movies.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice and fun.
Review: This movie is not bad, worth to see. Within 90 minutes they've done well with all of the characters. Each characters have their own role. Especially, the main cast, 2 old men with their great action. Plot is simple but still great. This movie is fit to watch while we need little break.
Rating:
Summary: You'll Fall Off Your Chair Laughing!
Review: This has to be one of the funniest films I've ever seen! My Mom's Irish and many of the people in the film reminded me of the "odd" aunts & uncles I had! The scenery is gorgeous!!... I've been to Ireland and what you see is still there in ...[present day] You will fall in love with this movie! It captures so well the fine line we all walk between doing what's "right" and doing what makes sense... Sometimes, making sense is the right thing to do.
|
