Waking Ned (1998)

The greatest movie ever!

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

France and the UK financed this film; it does not originate in the US as the website suggests. And did these countries ever do a great job! What does net worth mean to you when you hear "Waking Ned Devine" costs $3 million to make. And its box office return values at $55,257,450?Speaking of a lottery, Ned Devine - a resident of a village in Ireland named Tullymore/Tulaigh Mhór wins the Irish National Lottery. And his friend Jackie finds him dead rocking and smiling in front of the television with the prize ticket in his hand. Later Jackie dreams Ned wants he and the Tulaigh Mhór folk to have the winnings. So Jackie enlists Michael - actor David Kelly (1929-2012) whom "The Irish Times referred to...as the "grand old man of Irish acting" - to help him achieve Ned's supposed wish.The ensuing shenanigans all take place on the beautifully filmed landscape of the Isle of Mann. The script, sea and scenes will keep you soaring in the ambience of Ireland right up to the final Sláinte. Happy St Patrick's Day, 2018!

'Waking Ned' is a fun little movie about a village that conspires to claim the lottery winnings of a deceased resident. It is brilliantly written and provides some genuinely hilarious individual scenes, with charismatic and fun lead characters.For a low budget, relatively unknown film, I was surprised at just how good it was. This is the perfect feel good film - a simple, easy to follow plot, endearing characters and a well-written script. That's really all that is needed.I would highly recommend this gentle, uplifting comedy film. A great way to spend a couple of hours.

Very few films end up on my hard drive, but this one has stayed there the longest! It is brilliant: crafted to perfection in both writing, editing, photography and performances by actor who rarely get mentioned for their work. It's honest and remains true to the belief that a good story trumps all other production values. I have seen it, and shared it, with everyone I come in contact with. It will last forever, and those that have passed on since they participated in this film will live on because of it! It was their BEST work! Just like life, it has a mixture of comedy and drama. There are no "dead" characters or wasted time within the film. Each scene and character has a purpose for being there and without them the story line would suffer. If you don't watch any other film... watch this one!

Waking Ned Devine (1998): Dir: Kirk Jones / Cast: Ian Bannen, David Kelly, James Nesbitt, Susan Lynch, Fionnula Flanagan: Creative and very funny comedy set in a small Irish town. Title symbolizes the awakening of this town while physically it regards the deceased Ned Devine who won the lottery and died of shock. The lottery win is announced and Ian Bannen plays one of the elderly residence who throws a get-together in order to find out who won. He and his wife discover that only Ned Devine failed to show. He and his best friend, played by David Kelly go to Devine's house only to find him dead. To protect the winnings Bannen convinces Kelly to poise as Devine in order to fool those following through on the winnings. They even get the rest of the town in on the charade. We also have a little romance between a pig farmer, played by James Nesbitt, and Susan Lynch as his romantic interest. Fionnula Flanagan plays Bannen's wife. The conclusion is wayward but the humour is genuine particularly during a hilarious sequence where Kelly rides naked on a motorcycle in order to hurry back to the realms of charade. The whole idea of these people getting away with this deceit will be off putting for some viewers. Others will wake to this sort of humour and find great amusement to the events that take place during Ned's deep sleep. Score: 8 / 10