The Most Fertile Man in Ireland

Eamon Manley (Marshall), a 24-year-old Irish Catholic virgin, works in a dating agency, while silently dreaming of melancholy funeral parlour worker Rosemary (Clarke). Following a night of (heavily protected) passion with a good-time gal, the geek discovers that, in these times of male infertility, his sperm could "impregnate a stone".

Now in demand from infertile couples the length and breadth of Ireland, and backed by a test tube-eschewing Catholic Church, he soon makes a packet with colleague Millicent (Gallagher) - until paramilitary headcase 'Mad Dog' Billy Wilson (Nesbitt) decides Catholics are outbreeding Protestants, and forcibly recruits him for a 'numbers war'.

"The Most Fertile Man in Ireland... is Coming!" chortled the teaser posters, belying a severe case of coitus interruptus. Originally due for release in September 2000 (the film was made back in 99), a number of ill-fated distribution deals put the kibosh on The Most Fertile Man In Ireland, until director Dudi Appleton's debut finally reached third base in Ireland in 2002 - a year later in the UK.

Based on late-night conversations between scriptwriter Keeble and pals about "what it is to be a man", this was originally intended as a dark satire about a messiah-cum-superhero in present day Belfast - morphing into a lightweight, if uneven farce about a man who's anything but. On the plus side, Marshall, star of Middle England's favourite sitcom 'My Family', does imbue his (admittedly one-note) role with a winning mix of gormless pathos and knockabout good-humour, ably supported by Nesbitt, in full-on panto villain mode.

Predictably, the complex issue of the Troubles is reduced to a mere comic backdrop (represented by alternating portraits of the Pope and HRH, indicating Eamon's visits to Catholic or Protestant households), jarring with the screwball romance. Also a sombre third act sits uneasily with previous hi-jinks, investing its cast with unexplored depths. Nevertheless, an interesting premise from a first time director, showing plenty of promise.

featuring flawless timing, characterization, and storytelling. Between the funeral home thread, the dating service bit, the IRA and the efforts of the protestants to co-opt young Kris' amazing talents, this movie crackles with laughs in almost every frame. Yet, when a little tenderness is called for, the director gives Romance a fighting chance.

I found this film very funny and easy to watch, I suppose really it would be classed as a romantic comedy. Its all set in Belfast and perhaps the fact that that's where I'm from is what made it appeal to me so much. Its a great story which incorporates many facets of life in Belfast without being heavy going, rather it pokes fun at them. The majority of the cast certainly sound as if they are from N.Ireland, although the lead role is an English guy - but his Belfast accent is pretty good, and definitely doesn't detract from the film at all. I was surprised by the low ratings others have given this film and can only guess that they didn't get the Belfast humour in it.

Dont take it seriously. It's a fun movie. Have a laugh and forget about the world for 90 minutes

OK, so it's not brilliant, but it is funny in places. There are several points that I don't feel further the plot, but it's pretty funny.

And yes, it's predicable as hell, because there was very little other way it could have been really and still have kept the idea going. I think it's just one of those things you could watch with a few mates and enjoy.

If you like Kris (how it pains me to type that with a K) Marshall, then you'll like this. I don't fully understand why they cast a lead in an Irish set film as someone who is as far as I remember a rather posh English man, but the acting is believable, and the accent is generally good, although there are some points where it just seems to fly out of the window.

I don't think people would get the black humour in this movie unless they were relatively familiar with the conflict in Northern Ireland, but it does have moments of completely stupid, and yet amusing jokes.

The problem is, that the characters seem a little wooden, and their reactions are not always brilliant. But it's a pretty sweet film, and it's got a good message I guess.

Worth a watch at least.