Waking Ned Devine (1998)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jens S

  
  Charming Irish comedy with a pretty dark but nevertheless sweet sense of humor about a small village trying to find out which one of their own won the lottery millions, discovering quite a bit of a surprise. The mostly aged cast delivers lovable and quirky characters you easily cheer… More
  Charming Irish comedy with a pretty dark but nevertheless sweet sense of humor about a small village trying to find out which one of their own won the lottery millions, discovering quite a bit of a surprise. The mostly aged cast delivers lovable and quirky characters you easily cheer for. Once the dilemma is on the table things maybe go a little too smoothly, so the plot could have used a turn or two more in the second half. But that doesn't take anything away from how enjoyable this film is. The Irish countryside and soundtrack add up to the quirky, traditional feel of the movie that makes it hard not to be absolutely enchanted by the story.

• Ginny  

  
  Weird, I thought I rated this already on my Gx acct? Just watched it again, 2 old farts, 1 small village and a winning lottery ticket. My kind of funny ^_^

• Jeremy S

  
  Oh so funny!

• Cindy I

  
  I have a soft spot in my brain for movies set in Ireland, and this one fits the bill perfectly. A small town looks for a way to claim a winning lottery ticket after the winner drops dead from shock before he can claim his prize. Very sweet, funny film with elderly people as the stars,… More
  I have a soft spot in my brain for movies set in Ireland, and this one fits the bill perfectly. A small town looks for a way to claim a winning lottery ticket after the winner drops dead from shock before he can claim his prize. Very sweet, funny film with elderly people as the stars, not just as background characters.

• Randy T

  
  A laugh-out-loud Irish comedy with universal appeal. You haven't lived until you've seen 69 yr. old David Kelly riding a motorcycle buck naked. :) <center><div style="width:235px;"><img… More
  A laugh-out-loud Irish comedy with universal appeal. You haven't lived until you've seen 69 yr. old David Kelly riding a motorcycle buck naked. :) <center><div style="width:235px;"><img src="http://content8.flixster.com/photo/11/91/25/11912586_gal.jpg" border="0"/></a></div></center>

• Christopher M

  
  So, I sought to see this film recently because my director said it was one of the possibilities for our acting groups' next production, and because I had a passing interest in seeing it anyway. It's the story of two old friends in a tiny Irish village called Tully More, who… More
  So, I sought to see this film recently because my director said it was one of the possibilities for our acting groups' next production, and because I had a passing interest in seeing it anyway. It's the story of two old friends in a tiny Irish village called Tully More, who discover someone in their town has won the national lottery, and attempt to find who it is so they can squirrel their way into sharing the winnings. It's an idea that becomes comically sinister when they find the winner, Ned Devine, has died of shock from his win - from which point a wonderfully written black comedy sets forth as they try and claim the dead man's winning for themselves. Like a lot of comedies like this, it's very well written and acted, and it has a heart, but falls a little bit short direction wise, and we end up with a somewhat flawed, but very entertaining and watchable film. The two old friends (played by Ian Bannen and David Kelly) have wonderful chemistry and produce some truly hilarious moments, and some very poignant ones, especially the one that occurs at Ned's funeral. It doesn't look like my group will be performing this one, after all, at least not this time around - but it would have been a pleasure to try it. I'd most definitely recommend the film, it would make great family viewing.

• Jason S

  
  Funny movie about a town coming together in the shadow of a friends death... so they can get the lottery he won as he died.

• Matthew R

  
  Surely everyone has pondered on what life would be like if one won the lottery.... In the quaint Irish town of Tullymore, an elderly pair of jokers, Jackie (Ian Banner) and Michael (David Kelly), discovers that one of the villagers has won the National Lottery's First Division.… More
  Surely everyone has pondered on what life would be like if one won the lottery.... In the quaint Irish town of Tullymore, an elderly pair of jokers, Jackie (Ian Banner) and Michael (David Kelly), discovers that one of the villagers has won the National Lottery's First Division. There's a problem though -- the villager in question is dead. That's when the two charming old scoundrels, concoct a scheme for posing as the deceased lotto winner in order to collect the prize. Of course this involves getting the entire village to go along with the scheme, and that is where all the fun begins. Although it is not exactly a hilarious film, there are moments where you will genuinely laugh. The first scene in particular when Ian Bannen wants his apple tart brought to him whilst watching the lotto results - hysterical. But it is also a heartwarming film, the perfect feel-good entertainment. Bannen, Kelly, and Fionnula Flanagan are the main stars; Bannen in particular is outstanding; striking just the right balance of humor and poignancy. However, the real star performer is Eileen Dromey as Lizzie Quinn, a cantankerous wheelchair-bound old woman, with no friends except her cats (and perfectly happy for it to remains the same). Everyone will recognize someone they know in the old bat, and her unbelievable rudeness will leave you laughing more with shock than anything. In the end, Waking Ned Devine is one of those charming and funny movies that you just can't help liking, great acting and witty dialogue propels this film. Story: B Acting: A Direction: B+ Visuals: B Overall: B+ ***1/2 out of 4 stars

• Dannielle A

  
  Waking Ned Devine is an Irish tale of two elder gentlemen who live in a small town: population 52. Someone wins the lotto jackpot of nearly seven million pounds. The men have to figure out who and kiss up so they can share the wealth. What happens after they find out who won is epic.… More
  Waking Ned Devine is an Irish tale of two elder gentlemen who live in a small town: population 52. Someone wins the lotto jackpot of nearly seven million pounds. The men have to figure out who and kiss up so they can share the wealth. What happens after they find out who won is epic. The men learn the value of true friendship and that riches can't buy happiness. The humor of this movie is light and simple. It does not have to be crude to tickle your funny bone. The only thing is male nudity from the back but even that is snicker-worthy. You have to see the movie to know what I'm talking about!!! Very delightful to watch.

• Sunil J

  
  An awesome British duo split the winnings of a dead friend's lottery ticket but somehow manage to be amazingly upbeat.

• Ina S

  
  So funny, so Irish, so charming, so endearing, so many good feelings while watching it. I love these little, lovely, regional films with lots of charme and great characters.

Read all 11 featured audience ratings