Nuns on the Run (1990)

47% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(8,232 ratings)

Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane team up for this bad boy comic burlesque, directed by Jonathan Lynn. Idle and Coltrane play Brian Hope and Charlie McManus, a pair of two-bit hoods who want to go straight, repulsed by the increasing reliance on guns and violence in their line of work. In thrall to… More Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane team up for this bad boy comic burlesque, directed by Jonathan Lynn. Idle and Coltrane play Brian Hope and Charlie McManus, a pair of two-bit hoods who want to go straight, repulsed by the increasing reliance on guns and violence in their line of work. In thrall to vicious gangster Case Casey (Robert Patterson), the duo determine that their next job will be their last. When a large amount of money is extracted from a gang of Hong Kong drug dealers and it falls into the laps of Brian and Charlie, the two take off with the loot, with the Chinese Triad and Casey in relentless pursuit. When their car runs out of gas in front of a convent, Brian and Charlie run inside and disguise themselves as two of the ugliest nuns imaginable. Inside the convent, Brian and Charlie pass themselves off as nuns from a different order, assigned to the convent before leaving the country on missionary work. As the two men enjoy their undercover work with a collection of nubile nuns and coeds, the bad guys close in on their trail. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Jonathan Lynn
Genres: Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 16, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Apr 5, 2005
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Critic Reviews

David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a disastrously unfunny mess.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Pretty much a one-joke film, and the joke feels about 20 years old.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The gags run the gamut from obvious to odious.
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian
A spot of good cheer, especially if you're looking for a movie that asks little of its viewers.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Complete crap. Idle and Coltrane have both been much better.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
"makes a habit of being unfunny"

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Eric Idle & Robbie Coltrane make a great pair of crooks hiding from the Mob dressed as nuns. It?s a classic! Eric Idle in drag is shockingly similar to my Gran, God rest her soul!
Dean !

An ok comedy as 2 bank robbers go undercover as nuns.
xGary X

Typically of British comedy, this film take two very funny men and drops them into one cliched witless situation after another in the vain hope of making the audience laugh. The result is the usual unfunny schmaltz and two middle aged men running around in drag. Ho ho.
Dean M

Like Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in the Billy Wilder classic <i>Some Like It Hot</i>, Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane are motivated by fear for their lives to dress in women's garb. They make a wonderful pair of dumbbells, both in and out of their habits.
Barry L

The above synopsis is wrong. This film was witty, funny and well acted by all. Loved it and bought it.

Cast

            Eric Idle as Brian Hope

            Robbie Coltrane as Charlie McManus

            Camille Coduri as Faith

            Janet Suzman as Sister Superior

            Doris Hare as Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart

            Lila Kaye as Sister Mary of the Annunciation

            Tom Hickey as Father Seamus

            Robert Patterson II as "Case" Casey

            Robert Morgan as Abbott

            Winston Dennis as Morley

            David Becalick as Police Sergeant

            Michael Beint as Bewildered Policeman

            Aran Bell as Police Constable

            Joanne Campbell as Ward Nurse

            Craig Crosbie as Policeman in Car Park

            Nigel Fan as Dwayne Lee

            Helen FitzGerald as Tracey

            Peter Geeves as Faith's Brother

            Julie Graham as Casino Waitress

            Fred Haggerty as Gatekeeper

            Stewart Harwood as Faith's Father

            Gedren Heller as Chemist Shop Assistant

            Nicholas Hewetson as Louis

            Dan Hildebrand as Casino Manager

            Irene Marot as Hysterical Bank Manager

            Louis Mellis as Bank Security Guard

            Britt Morrow as Hospital Receptionist

            John Pythian as Airport Policeman

            Shirley Anne Selby as Tied-up Nurse

            Lee Simpson as Policeman with Radio

            Richard Simpson as Mr. Norris

            Wabei Slyolwe as Julie

            Tatiana Strauss as Michelle

            Gary Tang as Ronnie Chang

            Francine Walker as Tied Up Nurse

            Ozzie Yue as Ernie Wong

            Tex Fuller as Taxi Driver

            Jennifer Hall as Airport Ticket Girl

            Mary Selway
            
            Oliver Parker as Doctor

            Colin Campbell as Norm

            David Forman as Henry Ho
See full cast