Wild About Harry

A thoroughly enjoyable movie. OK so it was never going to win any Oscars. But it was refreshing to see a movie set in Northern Ireland which wasn't one of those American garbage productions about their romanticised view of "The Troubles". It showed normal life (within the context of the story) does happen in NI. Much more entertaining than an hour of midweek soaps. Good cast, good laughs and a happy, feel good ending. Despite the occasionally wavering accents there were fine performances from Brendan Gleeson and Amanda Donohoe. Also another fine turn from James Nesbitt and Adrian Dunbar, particularly the latter's concern for his sexual preference possibly being made public in very conservative NI. Worth a watch of an evening. Maybe with a pizza and some beers.

Northern Irish TV chef Harry has a history of playing around, being drunk and fighting with his wife. On the eve of his divorce hearing, Harry is beaten up at a garage but goes to work the next day. Acting increasingly disorientated and unusual he finally slips into a coma. Coming out of the coma later, Harry thinks he is 18 and can't remember anything past that. His wife doesn't tell him what a total s*** he has been and tries to form him into a better person. But when Harry discovers his recent past he is shaken and tries to carry on as normal.

When I saw this advertised I saw the great cast and wanted to see it immediately. The plot didn't sound too great – how many `kid in adult's body' things have we seen – and this one sounded like a recipe (sorry) for disaster. The opening scenes are funny, with a great joke at the expense of the sheer horror of daytime TV, but it soon turns into sentimentality that doesn't always work. The central relationship between Harry and Ruth doesn't always convince but it is OK and mostly avoids being syrupy despite being a bit sentimental.

The sub-plot about the disgraced politician is just plain silly and is clearly a very silly idea whose sole purpose is to create some sort of climax to the main romance. It simply doesn't work and just adds to the feeling that this is a film that began with an idea but wasn't fully developed and, as a result, has too many bits that simply don't work very well.

The great cast is mostly wasted. Gleeson is on good form and is an enjoyable character in the lead. Donohoe is also good and her accent is pretty good despite slipping occasionally. Dunbar is a good actor but has little to do here in a small role. Nesbit is a great actor from my hometown of Coleraine. Sadly here he plays the absurd disgraced politician who is ruined by Harry on live TV – it's a silly role and the only thing that it does for Nesbit's career is that it shows he'll do any old tat! `Cheer's' Wendt is funny in a small role as Harry's producer and is typical of a well known and talented cast.

It's a shame that they are pretty much wasted in a daffy plot that mixes a good idea with some touches that simply don't work. At heart this is a romance with potential but it has too many bits that are half baked although much of the central romance is enjoyably sweet without being overly sickly sweet.

This was a very good film. The humor is British which takes a bit of adjusting to but Gleeson's performance was perfect. He demonstrates that he can hold down a lead part while not necessarily fitting a Hollywood mold. The overall plot was good. The Gleeson character was a total jerk and as a result, he was surrounded by people that hated him thoroughly. Through a tragic injury, he has to start all over and has a very hard time figuring out why everyone around him is such a jerk to HIM, not realizing that he was living in a world of relationships that he built (or destroyed). From there, Harry has to start all over and work through the many difficulties/consequences of his previous life. Gleeson is brilliant, I really had to root for him the whole time. If this were available on DVD I would probably buy it.

Black comedy about a hard-drinking/smoking/womanising Irish TV chef who loses his memory when on the brink of divorce. Harry is a mix of male TV chefs from Graham Kerr to Keith Floyd and looks a hell of a lot like Patrick, the Irish Anglia TV chef.

This is a well-constructed film, funny without being hilarious, moving without being too syrupy.

Brendan Gleeson play this part so well that it's hard to imagine anyone else doing it.

Amanda Donahoe is excellent in a different role for her.

George Wendt as a TV producer is George Wendt - a delight to watch (please can we see more of him).

Nothing groundbreaking, just good entertainment.

This is a wonderful film, beautifully, filmed, acted and directed. Just buy it, and you will have a film that you can watch time and time again. A story mixing comedy, tragedy, and insight, not letting each take anything away from the other. One of the best films I have seen in a long time.