When Brendan Met Trudy

I thought that this film from start to finish was just great fun. It was a simple romance with many far from simple situations. It had a great unique brand of humor that many Irish films possess. Its take off on many classic movies were great, my favorite was A Bout De Souffle , then breaking into Irish and the John Wayne thought the doorway scene. I don't think that Roddy Doyle tried too hard, he just seems to let it flow. Its fun, try it.

Quiet, self-absorbed teacher Brendan (Peter McDonald) meets outgoing thief Trudy (Flora Montgommery) and, following the old maxim 'opposites atract', they fall madly in love. She introduces him to the intricacies of breaking and entering, while he introduces her to the beauty of sung hymnal music.

The film is a veritable reel of visual and oral quotes, which you must be (like screenwriter Roddy Doyle) a real film fan in order to get them all. However, the constant quotation does not get in the way of the story, which is by turns funny and tragic.

Good story, lovely accents, fantastic external shots around Ireland and some nice views around Dublin make this film a genial and pleasent way to spend an evening. 7/10.

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.

For his first original screenplay Roddy Doyle subverts the romantic comedy genre and still manages to write a film that appeals to both subversives and rom com fans.

Roddy Doyle was a teacher who loved music and film, just like Brendan, but it would be a mistake - and libellous - to read this as autobiography. In a typical opposites attract tale Brendan is an innocent devoted to singing hymns and cinema, while Trudy is a not-so-innocent with a mysterious night life.

This film is as much of a love story with cinema as it is a love story between Brendan and Trudy. The opening echoes Sunset Boulevard's opening and other films also feature - although budgetary constraints meant that Doyle's wish list of films to license couldn't be granted. The quoting of films both visually and verbally has the potential to get on your nerves but here it is wonderfully and wittily done and always relevant to the story. Although, to be honest, the A Bout De Souffle sequence does push it just a bit too far. Watch out also for fake film posters and titles in the background which give a sly hilarious comment about film.

The eponymous leads are wonderfully played by Peter McDonald and Flora Montgomery and according to the director he had to argue to the financiers to allow Montgomery to have the role as she wasn't famous enough. If a brilliant screenplay by one of the world's most popular writers needs stars to get it made then the world has indeed gone mad.

When Brendan Met Trudy is very funny and has a good compelling story that will surprise. It is highly recommended.

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.