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Colm Meaney, Tina Kellegher, Ruth McCabe, Fionnula Murphy, Pat Laffan ... see more see more... , Deirdre O'Brien , Karen Woodley , Eanna Mac Liam , Peter Rowen , Joanne Gerrard , Colm O'Byrne , Ciara Duffy , Brendan Gleeson , Marie Conmee , Cathleen Delaney , Sheila Flitton , Jimmy Keogh , Rynagh O'Grady , Sandy , Joan Sheehy , Britta Smith , Stanley Townsend , Ronan Wilmot , Jack Lynch , Leo Davis , Dylan Tighe , Stuart Dunne , Eanna MacLiam , Peter Rowan

The Snapper is Stephen Frears's adaptation of the second book in Roddy Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy. The Curley family is a poor but eccentric and loving Irish family. Oldest daughter Sharon (Tina Kelleg... read more read more...her) announces she is pregnant, but refuses to reveal the identity of the father to anyone. Her father, Dessie (Colm Meaney), is supportive, but begins to chafe at the derisive gossip aimed at his family and his daughter. This leads to a confrontation between the two that is, like the rest of the movie, simultaneously funny and sad. The family waits in the hospital as Sharon gives birth to the snapper (Irish slang for an infant). The other books in the Barrytown Trilogy were also adapted into films featuring Colm Meaney as the father: The Commitments, directed by Alan Parker, and The Van, directed by Stephen Frears. Doyle had a hand in the screenplay for all three. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

84% liked it

2,820 ratings

Critics

97% liked it

31 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Stephen Frears

Release Date: December 3, 1993

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DVD Release Date: December 18, 2001

Stats: 176 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (176)

  • ileo
    January 1, 2008
    ileo
    Hilarious! A brilliant movie about a family who go through the motions of everyday life.
    Colm Meaney is fantastic in this one! A great comedy! Simply love it!
  • lechelant
    June 10, 2008
    lechelant
    This is an Irish film. Colm Meaney plays the Dad and he's HYSTERICAL! It's sort of a chick flick, but guys can enjoy it too. It's very true to life and no frills. Great movie!!
  • flixsterbum
    February 7, 2008
    flixsterbum
    Hilarious movie about illegitimate children and pints of Guinness. Colm Meaney is so great as the patriarch of a huge Dublin brood all under one roof, struggling with his daughter's scandalous pregnancy and trying to be a sensitive dad in an environment where that's nearly impos... read moresible. What's great about the Curley family is that they just roll with every setback with a wry determination, resigned to their woes, but resigned with a great love for their family and a great sense of humor. Would make a great double feature with "The Castle", another movie with a great working-class film family.

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Critic Reviews

Derek Elley
March 11, 2008
Derek Elley, Variety

Casting and playing are uniformly tops, with special praise for Fionnuala Murphy as Kellegher's best pal, Ruth McCabe as the quiet, long-suffering mom, and the five kids as her loopy brothers and sist... Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
March 11, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Better-than-average sitcom stuff, enhanced by the lively performances, Doyle's own adaptation, and the able direction of Stephen Frears. Full Review

Charles Hagen
May 21, 2003
Charles Hagen, New York Times

A small, joyful lark of a film. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

This rip-roaring Irish comedy is the freshest surprise of the season.

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The marriage of humor and drama is admittedly imperfect, but it works well enough to occasionally spawn laughter and touch the heart, and there's a crucial scene between Colm Meaney and Tina Kellegher... Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Snapper sees its characters with warmth and acceptance, and earns its laughs by being wise about human nature. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Stephen Frear's The Snapper hits the spot nicely, if your spot likes hearty rounds of working-class comedy. Full Review

Kim Newman
March 11, 2008
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine

At once realistic and idealised, this is a rare attempt to make drama of ordinary people doing the right thing. Full Review

March 11, 2008
Film4

Gritty, charming and with a heart as big as the Emerald Isle itself. Full Review

March 11, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Well written and directed, The Snapper celebrates common sense and human decency, qualities which triumph over prudishness and restrictive social mores. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Dessie Curley: How do you know he was Spanish? Or a sailor? He couldve been a Pakistani postman if you were that drunk!
    • Dessie Curley: Get out of me way ye dozy bollix.
    • Lester: Your a great little ride Sharon.
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The Snapper : Watch Free on TV

The Snapper Trivia

  • Who played Dr. Snapper Foster on the soap opera The Young and the Restless for six years?  Answer »
  • David Hasselhoff's two best known roles are on the TV series Knight Rider and Baywatch. In which soap opera did he play the original Snapper Foster?  Answer »
  • What professional wrestler played Billy Ray Snapper in The Devil's Rejects?  Answer »
  • In "Night at the Museum", what consumer product did Larry fail to profit from due to The Clapper? B  Answer »
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