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Ian Bannen, David Kelly, Fionnula Flanagan, Susan Lynch, James Nesbitt ... see more see more... , Maura O'Malley , Robert Hickey , Paddy Ward , James Ryland , Fintan McKeown , Matthew Devitt , Eileen Dromey , Kitty Fitzgerald , Dermot Kerrigan , Brendan F. Dempsey

Just as the charming British film The Full Monty told the story of simple men willing to shed their clothes for money, Waking Ned Devine is the story of older Irish men who pursue money and take off t... read more read more...heir clothes. Commercial director Kirk Jones makes his feature directing debut with a story about a small town in Ireland called Tulaigh More, where one of their 52 inhabitants wins the lotto jackpot of nearly seven million pounds. When nobody claims it, the town goes on a search to find out why. They find the winner, old Ned Devine, dead -- a smile on his face, clutching the winning ticket. Well, in Ireland, the lottery winnings must be claimed by the purchaser, which puts the town in a spot -- if the lottery officials discover Devine dead, he forfeits his money. What ensues is a community coming together in hopes of getting his money to split 51 ways. What they learn is the importance of friendship and the true value of money. To reveal any more would spoil some major surprises, but suffice it to say, it involves aging actors David Kelly, 69, and Ian Bannen, 70, naked. ~ Chris Gore, Rovi

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85% liked it

27,815 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

59 critics

PG, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Kirk Jones

Release Date: November 20, 1998

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DVD Release Date: June 1, 1999

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Stats: 1,499 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,499)

  • ironclad1609
    September 25, 2011
    ironclad1609
    Charming Irish comedy with a pretty dark but nevertheless sweet sense of humor about a small village trying to find out which one of their own won the lottery millions, discovering quite a bit of a surprise. The mostly aged cast delivers lovable and quirky characters you easily c... read moreheer for. Once the dilemma is on the table things maybe go a little too smoothly, so the plot could have used a turn or two more in the second half. But that doesn't take anything away from how enjoyable this film is. The Irish countryside and soundtrack add up to the quirky, traditional feel of the movie that makes it hard not to be absolutely enchanted by the story.
  • Gx7
    September 19, 2010
    Gx7
    Weird, I thought I rated this already on my Gx acct? Just watched it again, 2 old farts, 1 small village and a winning lottery ticket. My kind of funny ^_^
  • smith44
    March 15, 2010
    smith44
    Oh so funny!
  • webalina
    September 14, 2009
    webalina
    I have a soft spot in my brain for movies set in Ireland, and this one fits the bill perfectly. A small town looks for a way to claim a winning lottery ticket after the winner drops dead from shock before he can claim his prize. Very sweet, funny film with elderly people as the s... read moretars, not just as background characters.
  • flixsterman
    July 26, 2009
    flixsterman
    A laugh-out-loud Irish comedy with universal appeal. You haven't lived until you've seen 69 yr. old David Kelly riding a motorcycle buck naked. :)


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  • drago25
    July 10, 2007
    drago25
    So, I sought to see this film recently because my director said it was one of the possibilities for our acting groups' next production, and because I had a passing interest in seeing it anyway. It's the story of two old friends in a tiny Irish village called Tully More, who disco... read morever someone in their town has won the national lottery, and attempt to find who it is so they can squirrel their way into sharing the winnings. It's an idea that becomes comically sinister when they find the winner, Ned Devine, has died of shock from his win - from which point a wonderfully written black comedy sets forth as they try and claim the dead man's winning for themselves. Like a lot of comedies like this, it's very well written and acted, and it has a heart, but falls a little bit short direction wise, and we end up with a somewhat flawed, but very entertaining and watchable film. The two old friends (played by Ian Bannen and David Kelly) have wonderful chemistry and produce some truly hilarious moments, and some very poignant ones, especially the one that occurs at Ned's funeral. It doesn't look like my group will be performing this one, after all, at least not this time around - but it would have been a pleasure to try it. I'd most definitely recommend the film, it would make great family viewing.
  • superclerk25
    January 30, 2007
    superclerk25
    Funny movie about a town coming together in the shadow of a friends death... so they can get the lottery he won as he died.
  • rodriguesmatthew
    December 21, 2010
    rodriguesmatthew
    Surely everyone has pondered on what life would be like if one won the lottery.... In the quaint Irish town of Tullymore, an elderly pair of jokers, Jackie (Ian Banner) and Michael (David Kelly), discovers that one of the villagers has won the National Lottery's First Division. T... read morehere's a problem though -- the villager in question is dead. That's when the two charming old scoundrels, concoct a scheme for posing as the deceased lotto winner in order to collect the prize. Of course this involves getting the entire village to go along with the scheme, and that is where all the fun begins.

    Although it is not exactly a hilarious film, there are moments where you will genuinely laugh. The first scene in particular when Ian Bannen wants his apple tart brought to him whilst watching the lotto results - hysterical. But it is also a heartwarming film, the perfect feel-good entertainment. Bannen, Kelly, and Fionnula Flanagan are the main stars; Bannen in particular is outstanding; striking just the right balance of humor and poignancy. However, the real star performer is Eileen Dromey as Lizzie Quinn, a cantankerous wheelchair-bound old woman, with no friends except her cats (and perfectly happy for it to remains the same). Everyone will recognize someone they know in the old bat, and her unbelievable rudeness will leave you laughing more with shock than anything. In the end, Waking Ned Devine is one of those charming and funny movies that you just can't help liking, great acting and witty dialogue propels this film.

    Story: B
    Acting: A
    Direction: B+
    Visuals: B
    Overall: B+

    ***1/2 out of 4 stars
  • crazydannielle16
    January 9, 2009
    crazydannielle16
    Waking Ned Devine is an Irish tale of two elder gentlemen who live in a small town: population 52. Someone wins the lotto jackpot of nearly seven million pounds. The men have to figure out who and kiss up so they can share the wealth. What happens after they find out who won is ... read moreepic. The men learn the value of true friendship and that riches can't buy happiness. The humor of this movie is light and simple. It does not have to be crude to tickle your funny bone. The only thing is male nudity from the back but even that is snicker-worthy. You have to see the movie to know what I'm talking about!!! Very delightful to watch.
  • SunilJawahir
    March 18, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    An awesome British duo split the winnings of a dead friend's lottery ticket but somehow manage to be amazingly upbeat.

View All Waking Ned Devine Reviews

Critic Reviews

Derek Elley
March 11, 2008
Derek Elley, Variety

A genial, feel-good item. Full Review

Lisa Alspector
March 11, 2008
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

Though it strives for broad humor, pushing cuteness and light irony, this bland 1998 movie isn't exactly a comedy. Full Review

Jeff Millar
July 21, 2005
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

Completely delightful movie. Full Review

Rick Groen
July 12, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Breezy little comedy. Full Review

Peter Stack
June 18, 2002
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

There is some nudity in Ned Devine, but it's the funniest nudity in movies in ages. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

If this film doesn't make you want to smile, you've no one to blame but yourself. Full Review

Dennis Lim
January 1, 2000
Dennis Lim, Village Voice

It's instructive that Waking Ned Devine is being so aggressively sold as a feel-good comedy; the "good" feeling in question is called condescension. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Although his movie is not entirely without substance (themes about religion, morality, and spirituality abound, as one can guess from the title character's name), it's basically designed to allow the ... Full Review

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

Another one of those delightful village comedies that seem to spin out of the British isles annually. Full Review

Paul Tatara
January 1, 2000
Paul Tatara, CNN.com

Perfectly competent new Irish working-class comedy. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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