Waking Ned Devine

Year: 1998
Genre: Comedy
Directed: Kirk Jones
Stars: Ian Bannen, David Kelly, Fionnula Flanagan, Susan Lynch, James Nesbitt, Adrian Robinson, Maura O'Malley, Jimmy Keogh
Production: Tomboy Films

In a word, Waking Ned Devine is delightful. It brings to mind similar small-town comedies like Cold Turkey (1971) The Full Monty (1997) and more recently The Amateurs (2005) only with a decidedly more Irish sense of humor. The film opens with the elderly Jackie (Bannen) and wife Annie (Flanagan) watching the lottery on TV. Jackie has been playing for years and isn't the least bit surprised he's not a winner. The next day there are rumors about town that someone in the village had indeed won big and in an attempt to ferret them out, everyone starts playing nice. Among the suspected winners is Pig Finn (Nesbitt) a poor farmer with a crush on local beauty Maggie (Lynch). After a while Jackie finds out the winner was elderly fisherman Ned Devine (Keogh) who died from the shock of it.

From that point on the movie remodels into a bit of a caper in the style of Whisky Galore (1949). Jackie and his friend Michael O'Sullivan (Kelly) decide it's best to claim the money for themselves (it's what Ned would have wanted), and attempt to defraud the lottery to the dismay of the sensible Maggie who just as soon not see her husband in jail. They come up with a plan which all turns in on itself when the Lotto Observer comes to the sleepy town of Tullymore making inquiries.

The film's state of mind is one of serene goofiness. We laugh but not in the same way you would an overly broad piece of American slapstick. We're laughing with the eccentric townsfolk not at them. It's a little story about little people doing things of such importance to them, that you as the audience can't help but invest in their happiness. It helps that the entire film takes place in Ireland (though really on The Isle of Man). The stunning greenly beauty of the island helps put these characters into perspective. Every small village home and tiny store seems to melt into the rolling hills, rocky cliffs and leafy wood. There's almost a sense of nobility in how these people live and the relationships that they have formed with one another.

Everyone in the community of Tullymore does a fine job as an ensemble though if one were to point at a stand out it would be David Kelly who approaches the entire situation with elderly naivety. "Michael's never lied a day in his life," Annie says without intent to compliment. And indeed Kelly doesn't wear dishonesty well. He fidgets under scrutiny and can only be properly convincing as Ned Devine's double after a few drinks. Yet there's a deeper truth to what the character tries to do and when he finally comes to terms with the true meaning of the lottery and how much good the money can do, he goes along with the ruse. Also worth mentioning is Maura O'Malley as the town misanthrope Mrs. Kennedy. She drives her scooter across town with the wicked determinism of Margaret Hamilton on a broom.

Waking Ned Devine is a spirited slice-of-life comedy that amuses with the power and quirk of the ensemble. It features some stunning images of Isle of Man which automatically put the small island on my already lengthy must-see list. Finally, it exhibits some excellently sharp directing and screenwriting on the part of Kirk Jones. With a deft mix of black comedy and quaint small-town Provincialism, Jones and the entire crew behind this film know a small story can yield big heart and hearty laughs.

Final Grade: B-