Waking Ned Film Review

certificate_15

WAKING NED

When it comes to comedy, there really is no substitute for wit, invention and genuine humour, and if that sounds obvious, then ask yourself why so many dull, flat and laughless efforts make it onto our screens.

Happily, this charming, knock-about Irish whimsy has all the right credentials and more besides.

Following the misadventures of sprightly old codgers Jackie (Ian Bannen) and Michael (David Kelly) in a tiny Southern Ireland village, it's a tale of lottery frenzy as one of the Tullymore residents strikes the jackpot.

Desperate to butter up the winner in the hope of rubbing off a spot of financial goodwill, scheming Jackie and devoted best mate Michael set out to slyly identify the fortune-heavy fortunate, not least by offering wife Annie's (Fionnula Flanagan) chicken supper to the likely candidates.

But an evening of full bellies and empty malt bottles later, they're none the wiser. Until Annie notices that someone's missing.

Dear old Ned Devine has snubbed the party, and Jackie stomps out into a foul night to continue the ruse and determine Ned's excuse. Which turns out to be a fairly good one. Because Ned's dead. The promise of a six million roll-over pot proving too much for his frail ticker, shocked to standstill as six coloured balls clicked into place.

And even now, lottery rep Jim Kelly (Brendan F Dempsey) is on his way to verify a claim which surely must die with Ned. Unless...

If you're going to have shamelessly immoral scheming as the central thread to your yarn, it's vital the audience likes the characters involved, and in Bannen and Kelly, first-time director Kirk Jones is blessed with two deliciously energetic and exuberant performances.

There's a wicked (and slightly unexpected) edge to his script too, which allows a general air of warm-heartedness and cheer without descending into needless and misplaced sentimentality.

And the pace of what Bannen aptly describes as a light frolic is also kept well up - the premise as described above simply act one, heralding an increasingly chaotic round of naked motorbike rides and near-miss escapes as Jackie and Michael perpetuate the deception with ever more desperate means.

There are a couple of nice sub-plots stirred into the mix, brought to life by able support players including Susan Lynch and James Nesbitt, and the whole package bubbles its way to one of the most satisfying pay-offs the cinema has offered in recent years. Treat yourself.