Covid-19 has been a pain in the *** for the last two years. We've had to spend more time than ever locked inside our homes. Away from our work, our friends, our schools... It has upset the natural order of things. It's for this reason that I enjoyed Michael Keane's 'Hoodwinkers' so much. It's a simple, fun romp about a group of students trying to get out of studying for their Irish oral exams. A situation that every Irish student faces. Well, except for the class of 2020. I was a leaving cert student during this fabled year, so watching a dramatised version of a rite of passage I was familiar with but never actually experienced was oddly comforting. This is a short film that wears its Irish sensibilities on its sleeve and it's all the better for it.
The film features a strong cast that sells the situation. Dominic McHale and Sarah Morgan are particular standouts. Some characters are better written than others. With much of the cast blending into one at times. Yet it is clear very quickly that the goal here is to give the audience a fun time. So such minute details in the writing are not as much of a concern. The cast too, all bring a sense of individuality to the table. Helping to counteract the problem. In the end, the film is so damn fun that any issues quickly disappear from your mind.
An endlessly fun romp that thrives on its irish sensibility.
Quote: Judging by your test results, that definitely wasn't the first time you got hit in the head.
8.5/10.
