Waking Ned

I know that no movie is perfect, but I am hard pressed to think of any criticism for this movie, known as Waking Ned Devine here in the U.S. Perhaps I will come up with a weakness by the time I finish writing this.

This is a feel good movie from start to finish. Okay, a character dies at the beginning, but only right after he wins the lottery. They set up the action by introducing several characters and fill in background on them. Then the story itself is told simply and well.

Kirk Jones wrote and directed the film, which apparently stated out to be a ten-minute short. Fortunately for all of us, he was encouraged to expand it to a full-length feature. It won or was nominated for a lot of awards. So,e actors agreed to be made less than...

"Jackie" (Ian Bannen) has an ingenious way of getting his wife "Annie" (Fionnula Flanagan) to bring his ice cream to his armchair - he feigns a lottery win! That sets the tone for the rest of this light-hearted comedy as he discovers that one of their number has actually won over £6 millions. Now it's a tiny village, so together with his pal "Michael" (David Kelly) the three of them begin a process of elimination to discover the real winner. Nobody seems to be splashing the cash, though! The puzzle is finally solved when they clock that "Ned" hasn't been seen for a while. A trip to his house delivers sad news but an opportunity - if only they can convince the lottery man... This reminded me a little of the original "Whisky Galore" (1949) in...