Tiempos duros

It's been a long time since I saw an Irish film, so when I came across this, I thought I'd give it a go.

I was however, underwhelmed. I didn't laugh once. The characters' plan and execution was just too ridiculous to believe (think Allo Allo), and the main characters seemed a bit over acted. It's a shame, because I think the entire storyline could have been done so much better! I don't think it was a complete waste of time though, and would recommend if you want to turn off your brain for the evening and just want something a bit different.

A group of Irish mates can see no future in their village, so they decide to get rich quick by hi-jacking the Pfizer van as it picks up a vast consignment of Viagra tablets, or 'shag the missus pills' as they like to call them. Needless to say their plans go awry and in a panic they hide their spoils down a local well, and when the canisters begin to leak, the locals get a bit of a lift... and with the Americans turning up to see what's going on there's plenty of scope for lots of running around and even more panic. A good natured, lightweight, middle of the road comedy.

Somehow this film just never got into its stride.

There was nothing to identify with.

The village had no shape. The camera just shuffled between walls and around random doorways as did the cast, where the charm of the village was constantly referred to.

It got off to a really slow start with a stilted script worthy of a 6th form play.

The cast seemed awkward as if they had only been together for a week or so, with no chemistry between them all at all.

The Irish famously blend humour with charm and great timing. This film had none of this.

It could have been a bit of a gem given hard work, dedication, self reflexive humour and actual comic timing. Very disappointing.

A small, sleepy Irish town, on wonderful cliffs, some funny characters, a comic plot bursting with gags and sound fun and the movie appeals, in every sense. If you want to enjoy a truly amusing picture, full of humanity, sounding picturesque but never grotesque, take a chance on "Holy water". You will spend 90 minutes in good company, with those realistic and true characters that only movies like these have (see for example the French "Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis" to find a similar authentic cast), not being ruined by Linda Hamilton and company coming from the great Hollywood environment, on the contrary they amalgamate very well, to create a pleasant and always familiar atmosphere. Another enthusiastic, exciting, and authentic Irish-made comedy.

I saw this film in London when it was release in February and was surprised when I read some negative reviews. Some sour-faced reviewer said there were no laughs in it. He must have seen a different film. But what annoyed me about the naysayers most was their insistence that it wasn't a good film because it was not filmed in Ireland, but in Devon and therefore not authentic and therefore no good! I can't see the logic to this argument at all. It's not a documentary, it's a comedy that happens to take place in Ireland with Irish characters. In fact all the Irish characters in the film are played by Irish actors(I have lots of free time to comb the net). I got some news for those who disliked this film for daring to be filmed not in Ireland; Gone with the Wind was not filmed in the "Deep South", but in Hollywood. The Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films were not filmed in India or Africa, but in Hollywood. The Wizard of Oz was not filmed in the Land of Oz or even in Australia, but in Hollywood. WAKING NED (Irish film with a Scot playing one of the main leads) was filmed in the Isle of Man, not Ireland. Mary Poppins was not filmed in London, but in Hollywood.Okay, Seven Samuraii was filmed in Japan, but did the film-makers go back in time to the 1600s? No!NOT AUTHENTIC! Most of Titanic was filmed in a water tank in Mexico, not the North Atlantic. Casablanca was not film in Morrocco, but in ... you guessed it. Does it make any of those films less enjoyable knowing they are not "authentic"? If you answered yes, then go and write crappy reviews of films that are trying nothing more than to entertain you. How dare they? I WILL NOT FEEL GOOD AND POSITIVE BECAUSE I HATE HATE HATE. I WANTED TO WRITE NOVELS INSTEAD OF THREE COLUMNS IN A NEWSPAPER!!!! Anyway, I thought Holy WAter was a good film. Okay, it could have been better, but as far as I know it is a low-budget independent film that probably needed a break. But the school bullies have grown up and now write film reviews!"Let's kick it before it has a chance to get up"!