Restless Natives

For Americans, it might take a "wee bit" of getting use to the Scottish accents, but this loopy, off-beat picture is so good and so entertaining, the viewer just sits back and takes it all in. Two boys who work at a Magic Store by day make their own "magic" as they rob tourist buses after work. Ned Beatty is fine, as always. This film is a real gem: the kind you just wish would get more publicity so that so many more would see and enjoy it. Savor it--and tell your friends!

Yes, if you didn't already know, the excellent soundtrack of this film was composed by Stuart Adamson and performed by his band Big Country. We'll get to that in a minute. "Restless Natives" is a cute, quirky, distinctly Scottish comedy about 2 young losers who flirt with a life of crime, only to become national heroes for it.

The presentation is wonderfully absurd. Don't expect realism. Don't raise any eyebrows when our 2 anti-heroes rob scores of people using pink plastic toy guns. And don't scoff when the victims of their robberies swoon in admiration as if they'd just met the Jonas Brothers. This film immerses us in a farcical universe where people act & react strangely, and it's that farcical presentation that makes us realize that perhaps this story is a deeper allegory, a satire about the cult of personality the way the classic "Bonnie & Clyde" (1967) hit us.

Being set in Scotland, a country that prides itself in a history of rebels, rogues and rapscallions, "Restless Natives" is almost believable--that a pair of lovable loser criminals could become mythical heroes overnight--and that's what makes this film extra fun. There is no real malice, no heavy moralizing, no contrived melodrama. It's like a clean, modern fable from start to finish. Scotland style.

And that leads me to the soundtrack as promised. If you're not familiar with the magic of the 80s-90s band "Big Country" then get familiar asap. Famous for their distant bagpipe-sounding guitars and traditional highland folk melodies and rhythms, the music compliments the story as well as the glorious landscapes prominently featured in the film. Big Country fans will instantly recognize Stuart's e-bow guitar melodies (reminiscent of the song "The Storm") as well as the band's distinct 6/8 drum beats, melodic bass parts and percussive guitar rhythms that we heard all over their 1983 debut album "The Crossing". Most of the music here is instrumental, but there is one great song "Restless Natives" near the end where Stuart sings, and the final scenes of stunning landscape are perfectly complimented by the song "Come Back to Me" from BC's 2nd album. Much like Queen's iconic soundtrack to "Flash Gordon" (1980), Big Country's sound is clearly stamped on this film in the same memorable way.

"Restless Natives" was a big hit in Scotland though I never heard a peep about it in the USA. I suppose 1985 was a busy year in American theaters with the likes of "The Breakfast Club", "Weird Science" and my favorite teen comedy "Better Off Dead" (incidentally the star of this film Vincent Friell bears a striking resemblence to John Cusack, including the perpetual deer-in-the-headlights stare). So congratulate yourself for stumbling on this obscure gem. Don't miss it!

I first saw this movie in about 1986. Back then I was 15 and loved razzing round on motorbikes (still do!). I also regularly went on holiday to the North West of Scotland, Glencoe in particular, and was delighted to see a lot of the beautiful scenery of that part of Scotland captured within this film.

There are some excellent performances from the main characters, Joe Mullaney and Vincent Freill, not that well known, except in Scotland, but great nonetheless. Perhaps more famous are the actors who played supporting roles, Ned Beatty, Bernard Hill, Robert Urquhart, and cameos from the likes of Brian Forbes, Nanette Newman and Mel Smith.

The Soundtrack is also worth noting. I'm not a fan of Big Country, but the music that they produced for this film is absolutely excellent and complements it completely. I loved the soundtrack for this so much, that I spent 13 years tracking it down! At first it was only available as 2 b-sides split across 2 12-inch singles they had out, but eventually they released it in its entirety on 'Restless Natives - Hits and rarities' in 1998. It's a double cd, I bought it for the 35 minute soundtrack on the 2nd CD and that's the only stuff I play from Big Country - sorry boys! The movie itself was also quite elusive! I had a copy on VHS that I recorded off the telly. It was commercially available on VHS in the late 80's early 90's, then was discontinued! There then followed about 12 years of not being able to buy it at all. The surge of DVD re-issues of old films seemed to overlook Restless Natives for what seemed like an eternity, I had begun to think the Oxford Film Foundation had lost the original film reels! DVD copies of the original VHS were beginning to appear on Ebay, with the original VHS itself starting to attract a premium! Then, all of a sudden, in 2005, 20 years after it's original release, 'Optimum Releasing' brought it out on DVD in full glory! Hurrah! A bonus with the DVD is a short interview with Vincent Friell, who played Will. He looks a bit different after 20 years! Classic little bits to look out for in no particular order:- -Little old lady, mother of 'wee Angus' belting Ronnie Witherspoon unbelievably hard across the face with her hand before beating him remorselessly with a joke rubber squeaky baseball bat while Will disguises himself with a Groucho Marx Nose, Glasses and Moustache kit . - Classic physical comedy. -Watch Will playing with the green slime in the background while Ronnie is speaking to the policeman in the joke shop. Both of them provide an excellent depiction of two lads who think they're gonna get 'found out'. But all the copper wants is to buy a pair of false breasts! -Check out Will rocking back on his chair while talking to his dad at the dinner table. He just about leans back past the point of no return, before recovering it just as his dad shouts at his sister. -The street cleaner who spins his cart round with joy as he's just swept up loads of money, nearly overturns the whole thing! -Look out for the sign pointing to Glencoe Village before the scene where they're arrested. Anyone who's been to the 'Clachaig hotel' in Glencoe will recognise it! All in all, a cracking little movie, well shot, well acted, good soundtrack, lovely scenery. Pace is pretty much spot-on, although if I was pushed, I'd say it drags a touch towards the last quarter of the movie, only because the beginning and middle flow so well. Nice little twist at the end. Definitely worth a watch!

Restless Natives is a lovely little curiosity of a film from Scotland. I first discovered the film as a kid and had watched it about 4 times, and had very fond memories of it. On seeing it again recently, I think it is a minor masterpiece of Scottish Comedy. Great idea, fun script, charming acting, good supporting cast, great uplifting music from Big Country and beautiful locations. As a Scotsman, we always get a bit patriotic seeing Scottish locations and hearing Scottish accents in films, and this doesn't disappoint. Forget Braveheart, this is a film that makes me proud to be a Scot. Now, I'm not saying this is by any means a brilliant film... I'm saying that if you like your comedies quirky, silly, fun and with a bit of heart then this is for you. Fantastic acting from Vincent Friell, Joe Mullaney, Bernard Hill, Robert Urquart and Ned Beatty. This film is great, I urge anyone who has seen it years ago to go and get the DVD when it comes out - you won't be disappointed. Favourite moments have to be Vincent's sweeping in the park, the cop in the joke shop, any scene with Ned Beatty and that brilliant chase across Scotland at the end. Yes, there are plenty of weak points in this film too but it makes me smile so much I don't care.

It takes a lot to get around the alarmingly 80's Edinburgh featured in this movie. A lot has changed since then and since the movie is about 2 guys who are bored with their lives, the city scenes are shot in the most drab and depressing way possible. This only accentuates their adventures in the countryside.

Basically Ronnie and Will are on the edge. They hate their lives so much and decide that a little highway robbery in the highlands would be just the fun they are looking for. What begins as a little fun soon leads to them becoming local heroes and, by the end, immortal legends.

With good characters, some funny scenes and a nice feel-good factor towards the end, Restless Natives makes for easily diverting entertainment. It's long, long out of print and ancient VHS ex-rental copies go for £135 at online auction sites. I think a DVD release is rather overdue. I hope it comes in widescreen when it does. I am unsure or the original aspect ratio but the copy I saw was in pan and scan and the lack of wide shot in the countryside scenes felt awkward and disorientating.

The mangled Glaswegian accents did NOT fit the Edinburgh setting though.