Waking Ned | | Cast : | Ian Bannen, David Kelly | | Director : | Kirk Jones (III) | | Studio : | Twentieth Century Fox | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby, Widescreen | | Released Date : | November 20, 1998 | | DVD Released Date : | September 07, 2004 | | Language : | English (Subtitled), English (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 09, 2005 | | Summary | Jackpot! | Content
 | A small Irish town takes on big city establishment when one of their own, Ned Devine wins the lottery. How do they claim the winnings when Devine dies with his winning ticket in his hand? The resulting film is a quaint, often charming comedy. The marketing would have you expecting a FULL MONTY type experience and that is somewhat accurate.
The town itself is a major character in the story as is the lottery, represented by an allergic young man who arrives by helicopter. There is a sub-plot involving a love-struck pig farmer who tries to win the girl of his dreams, but the true heart of the film involves the boys, two senior citizens who plan the lottery claim. This is a quiet comedy that's pace matches the small town so many may consider it a slow moving story.
The screenplay does have its problems. For example, when the townsfolk are celebrating their coming good fortune, one member tells the group that it isn't going to work which brings the party to a stop. Then he offers the solution and the party starts back up. The conflict is a red herring that creates a false desperation.
This is an enjoyable film with some funny scenes. The DVD has a nice audio/video transfer.
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| Rating | | | Date | August 04, 2005 | | Summary | A wonderful heart warming movie! | Content
| I haven't enjoyed a film so much in years! It was fun and funny from the very beginning. The plot took one fun turn after another. |
| Rating | | | Date | June 29, 2005 | | Summary | Winners in life | Content
| In he tradition of movies like The Full Monty, comes a very funny story of lotteries, winners and losers in a small town in Ireland.
The small villa of Tully More, population 52, hides in the huge Irish hills; but a national event -the state lottery- takes this town out of anonymity when one of their residents buys the winning ticket.
Two old friends, Jackie and Michael, discover the good news. But now, they want to know the identity of the winner to convince him to share the prize with them.
Searching for clues and proofs to unmask the millionaire, these two get involved in hilarious situations. Until they finally find the only possible winner, still mysteriously quiet: Ned Devine.
But the surprise is, Ned has died of emotion when he finds out the News. Lottery certainly changes his life.
And before his body gets cold, a conspiracy is formed in Tully More to reclaim Ned's prize.
Joyous and picaresque, this movie smiles at optimism, celebrates friendship and provide us with sincere entertainment. The characters area a little cartoonish and eccentric but with a good heart, not an usual treat these days.
If you are looking for a few laughs, Waking Ned Devine will provide them; this story will leave you holding a winning ticket.
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| Rating | | | Date | June 13, 2005 | | Summary | Funny, Quirky, Refreshing, uplifting | Content
| This film takes place on an Irish Island with only one town called Tullymoor. Two old men that have spent a life time as friends in a town where everybody knows everybody, hatch a plot to "Steal" the Irish Sweepstakes. The question though is how do you fool a town of people that you've known your whole life? More importantly can two old fisherman outsmart the Irish Goverment? I loved this movie! I can't say enough how refreshing it was to have a movie made for adults that did not involve a never ending stream of bloodshed, profanity, gratuitous nudity, and explosions. It's a movie for grown-ups, but could be watch infront of your kids. You also don't have to be beat over the head with the movie star of the month. Although talented many of the actors are only big in europe and so are unkown to us in the U.S. I highly recommend this movie. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 07, 2005 | | Summary | Charming Fairy Tale | Content
| You may not immediately spot the leprechauns, wizards, and other tell-tale signs, but as you watch `Waking Ned Devine', you will soon realize that what you are seeing is an Irish fairy tale, simple and pure. The signs are all there, and if you are sharp, you will soon start to catch them. First to make its appearance is the pot of gold, disguised as a winning lottery ticket held by some lucky neighbor in the tiny village of Tulaigh Morh. Next, you will discover that the two old men scheming for a piece of the action, blarney filled Jackie O'Shea (Ian Bannen) and his expressive faced scarecrow pal Michael O'Sullivan (David Kelly), are but thinly disguised mischievous leprechauns. You will meet a hog keeper (James Nesbitt) waiting for the kiss of a fair maid (Susan Lynch) to reveal him for the prince that he is, and an old hag so black hearted and malevolent that all know her as a witch. And when Ned Devine, the neighbor with the winning ticket, dies from the shock of it, his ghost appears to old Jackie in a dream, setting in motion a plan fanciful as any Puss in Boots ever dreamed of that has the whole village working to outwit the vigilance of the lottery board and the malevolence of the witch, to all claim a piece of the fortune at rainbow's end.
`Waking Ned Devine' will enchant you and make you laugh. From its opening scene until the last verse of The Parting Glass is sung, it will charm you and leave you with a smile, wanting to watch it again.
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