When Brendan Met Trudy

This one I found quite by accident in a remainder bin and had heard that the great Roddy Doyle had written it. It is a movie lover's delight with many references to old movies. The uptight teacher, Brendan, is a movie buff with a leaning in the art house direction. He sings in a choir and is just about the poster boy for a Mummy's darling. Trudy is, well, the complete opposite, a thief who would never watch anything not in technicolour. There are lots of small scenes that take you by surprise here, many laughs. Trudy and her three TVs one stacked on top of the other, Brendan singing Panis Angelicus at her urging in the most inappropriate of places, Brendan's mother being far from anyone that would have a son like Brendan. The last third of the movie was a bit of a let down, went into slapstick mode, a little too frenetic in parts. Well worth seeing though. 7 out of 10.

The title has a romantic comedy resonance (`When Harry Met Sally') and, true, this is a romantic comedy, but it's different – Irish, in fact. It has an edgy character that seems to say it's just that little bit more dangerous to laugh here. The opening scene is of a man in pouring rain lying face down in a Dublin gutter and a voice over saying `it all started six months ago'. Brendan (Peter McDonald), history and English schoolteacher and film buff, best described as afraid of life, meets Trudy (Fiona Montgomery), blonde, bouncing, full of life, and Brendan is swept along. Trudy, however, has a secret…at first Brendan thinks she might be the Rathmines castrator, but she turns out to be a professional thief. Naturally Brendan gets involved, and the climactic caper is an attempt to steal computers from Brendan's school, which Brendan justifies on luddite grounds - the kids need to learn how to think without machines – a chalk is the only technology a good teacher needs, says Brendan.

Despite the rain, this film, written by Roddy Doyle and directed by first-time director Kieron Walsh, is really a very sunny piece. As Brendan becomes more and more distracted, his elderly headmaster summons him in for a talk, only to tell him not to worry about the complaints. The spirit of rebellion infects Brendan's mother, who starts to use words you don't expect Irish mothers to use. Brendan's sister and husband (`middle class and proud of it') turn out to be a bit kinky as well.

Peter McDonald (a younger Jeremy Irons) is perfect as the po-faced Brendan, and Fiona Montgomery manages to carry off a rather unlikely character with great panache. The minor roles are filled with good performances also and the whole cast blend in beautifully. Thank goodness the producers didn't try (or couldn't afford) to cast big names.

There are all sorts of references to Hollywood classics and non-film buffs will be driven mad by their film friends digging them in the ribs with an excited `oh that's from `Sunset Boulevard', or `African Queen' ` or wherever. The film buffery is sent up too, with unexpected twists been given to some great scenes of the past (have you ever wondered for instance what happened at the end of `Singing in the Rain' after Gene Kelly throws his feet in the air?). It's all good fun on its own terms and the `what happened to whoever' sequence at the end is one of the funniest of its kind.

Roddy Doyle has a well deserved reputation as a fine author, whose (very funny) books are grounded firmly in acute social observation. It's therefore something of a surprise that for this, his first film script, he chose to knock out such a whimsical comedy, packed with daft jokes, wacky plot, knowing film references, and occasional moments of pertinent satire. Realised with brio by director and cast, the result is a film that is flimsy, unpretentious, and hilarious. Watch it and cheer yourself up!

Roddy Doyle is a wonderful author, so it's hardly a surprise that his screenplay would be as charming and interesting as his novels are. Those that liked his Barrytown Trilogy (The Commitments, The Snapper, The Van) novels or films, will like this as well. Well cast and well written, it was amusing at the right moments, warm at the right moments, awkward at the right moments.

A solitary film buff/choir singer/school teacher meets a woman haphazardly at a pub. After a rocky start they begin to date and fall for each other. A fairly simple basis, but when you throw in the fact that she's a cat burglar it begins to make things more interesting. Part romantic comedy, part road-movie, all Irish charm, the film was well-paced, well-shot and well-acted.

Especially good was Flora Montgomery who played Trudy. She looked 100% comfortable in the role, and added a really vibrant quality to the film.

For criticism, Peter MacDonald was good as Brendan, though at times he seemed a bit stock/cardboard. This is partially due to Flora Montgomery being so good. As well, the dialogue could have used a touch up in certain places, and I was a little put off by the post-script involving his brother-in-law and sister (I won't spoil it, though it's not really important). As well, the film quotes and scene parodies were mostly amusing, but it got to be a bit too much - Doyle being perhaps too clever at times with his writing.

The one thing above all else that I really liked about this film, though, was the plot was never predictable. Many surprising twists of plot and character that made it that much more interesting. Overall: not as good as the Commitments, but really good just the same! 7/10.

Watched this on BBC2 last night.Still chuckling on Sunday morning.Completely square,choir-singing young school teacher meets dishy,wacky ,feisty blonde.Highlight of the film is when Brendan sings Iggy Pop's "The Passenger" to his classroom full of bemused kids.Well he does sing it in an over the top operatic style somewhat like a drunk singing "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen".Superb.References to famous films abound from steals from "The Producers" to scenes appropriated from art house French films with sub-titles in Gaelic!Do yourself a favour and find a copy of this film.