The Other Half

I ve seen this movie yesterday on DVD. I Did not expected too much of it but it did much better than just a lose-some-time entertainment. It was cheerful, funny, well played, and most of all very romantic. Of course if you expect a deep sociological movie do not see it, but if you want to kill a rainy Sunday afternoon, you will enjoy yourself very much especially if you are in a couple who is not able to understand the other's passion and even better if the other's passion is football. The only dark thing about this movie is that it has (especially in the beginning) some very creepy and rather amateurish shots, a bit like these bad erotic movies. However it gets very soon better or you don not care so much anymore because you focus on the story and on the performance of these very good actors. 8/10

This could and should have been so much better but directors Richard Nockles and Marlowe Fawcett cobble together a wafer thin story and film it guerilla style on the streets of Portugal during the actual Euro 2004 football competition hoping to capture some magic and atmosphere of fans at real football games but fail dismally.

Danny Dyer plays football mad Mark who promises to take his American bride Holly on a dream Honeymoon to Europe but is really planning to see several England games while he's there. After claiming the football matches to be a coincidence he tries to make it up to her when she realises he's been lying. This premise would have worked if they didn't feel the need to pad it out with dream like sequences of Mark getting advice from Vinnie Jones as a manager like figure on what to do next or the annoying narration of football commentators following them around giving a running commentary on their relationship. On paper this idea must have sounded funny but in reality it's not and tends to slow things down and becomes really annoying.

Danny Dyer is a natural at playing this type of laddish role and he's the only thing that may keep you watching. Don't expect another Football Factory (2004) because this one looks amateurish in comparison.

I have had this DVD in my collection for a while now and was really looking forward to watching it. How could it miss, you've got Danny Dyer (who i think is a very underrated actor), The England football team playing in Euro 2004, and a half descent story line involving Danny Dyer's character trying to see the first 3 England group games (on their honeymoon) without his other half finding out he already had the tickets before they left.

I am thinking this could be ,Is harry on the boat meets Football Factory a cocky lad's film a real Brit classic. How wrong i was. I was gutted a real let down. Watching it i felt it tried to be to many things it should have just been a comedy and used Danny Dyer in that lad role he does so well. Also without giving too much away what the hell are those 2 guys doing commentating on whats going on in the film that was really annoying.

So do yourself a favour if your Danny Dyer fan watch The Business, Outlaw or Football Factory. If you want a chick flick leave the other half to it and go to the pub.

It's unusual to leave the movie theatre feeling cheerful and laughing and this is how you feel after seeing The Other Half. You sympathise with the hero throughout - you're on his side and want it all to work out for him. His passion for football is the driving force of the film. This is a first film for both Richard Nockles and Marlowe Fawcett and they needed more time and money to work on the script and the supporting roles, but the music, graphics and photography are terrific. Well worth seeing especially if you like feel-good romance and football (or any sport for that matter). And well worth backing the directors on their next project.

Utter mince, Dyer at his absolute worst, and Vinnie Jones isn't much better