Broth of a Boy

1st watched 8/23/2002 - 4 out of 10(Dir-George Pollock): Harmless, yet unconvincing light comedy with the elderly Barry Fitzgerald playing the supposed oldest man in the world with a son that even seems older than him, but plays the part like a child. The story starts with a television rep that just happens to be hanging out around this small Irish town and stumbles upon a planning meeting for a birthday party for the old fart. He gets the brilliant idea to stage it for television despite the fact that most of the people in the town don't even like the guy. This movie seems to be okay being a simple movie, where the hollywood-type things happen( girl, Fitzgerald's granddaughter, dislikes boy, the television rep, then miraculously likes him later and everything is all peachy kin in the end, of course,) despite the oldest man being so unlikeable from the beginning to end. And besides it's not very funny for a comedy.

Barry Fitzgerald's screen career came to an end with the release of Broth Of A Boy, an independent film done by the Abbey Theater players. Fitzgerald's career came full circle with that one as he was a member of that honored theater group way before he did any film.

And the 77 year old Fitzgerald played a centenarian and then some as the oldest man in the world who BBC producer Tony Wright discovers while on holiday in Ireland. What a great story he's stumbled into and he wants a big television special.

But Fitzgerald is one crabby old cuss and he's got his own reasons for not making a big deal about the birthday. And he also assaults the owner of a trout stream where he and his somewhat mentally challenged son have been poaching for years. Will the big television special come off.

For that you have to watch Broth Of A Boy and while its not a great film it's a whimsical comedy that relies on the considerable scene stealing talents of Barry Fitzgerald and his colleagues from the Abbey Theater.

It is ironic that a film produced in Irish studios by an eminent Irish producer should wallow in Irish stereotypes dispensing an over abundance of whimsy.Poor Barry Fitzgerald in his last film looks rather out of things.Tony Wright is a bump Titus English tv producer who finds happiness and a television programme. It is just bearable