Critics’ reviews

Waking Ned (1998)

9 reviews from 9 publications. Critics’ score 65: 5 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative.

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65
Positive
5
Mixed
3
Negative
1

Most critics respond warmly to Waking Ned’s gentle comedy, with praise concentrated on Ian Bannen and David Kelly. Their performances and rapport are the clearest point of agreement, giving the village antics much of their appeal. The favourable reviews also welcome the sharp dialogue, eccentric supporting characters and flashes of darker humour, though enthusiasm ranges from affectionate approval to wholehearted enjoyment of its traditional comic approach.

Reservations centre on thin plotting, modest laughs and Irish charm that some find overdone. Variety remains positive despite finding the story slight and the comedy short of outright hilarity. The Guardian is the emphatic dissenter, rejecting the villagers as insulting Irish stereotypes and finding the comedy unfunny. The spread is therefore wide, but uneven: most reviews find enough warmth and performance skill to enjoy the film, while the harshest objection concerns the caricatures that others accept as part of its charm.

Los Angeles Times
20 November 1998 · Kenneth Turan
90*

The critic calls the film a roguish, delightful comedy whose traditional approach remains entertaining. He especially praises Ian Bannen and David Kelly, whose performances and rapport make the film charming and engaging.

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Empire
1 January 2000 · William Thomas
80*

Thomas gives the film a warmly positive verdict, praising its wit, invention and sustained humor. He particularly singles out the energetic performances of Ian Bannen and David Kelly.

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Total Film
19 March 1999 · ★★★★ · Total Film
80

The review finds the film an entertaining, gently funny crowd-pleaser, though its Irish charm is laid on a little thick. It singles out the believable story, sharp dialogue, and especially the leads’ terrific performances.

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The New York Times
20 November 1998 · Stephen Holden
70*

The review is positive about the comedy’s appeal. It singles out its lively Irish setting and eccentric characters.

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Variety
17 September 1998 · festival review · Derek Elley
70*

Elley finds it a genial, warmly observed comedy, though its plotting is thin and it is not laugh-out-loud funny. He praises the chemistry between Ian Bannen and David Kelly and the charm of the village ensemble.

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The AV Club
29 March 2002 · Joshua Klein
65*

Klein finds the film a charming, good-natured fable with a wicked streak, though it lacks class. He especially praises its grungy charm and comic willingness to go for dark laughs.

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Time Out
· TJ
64*

The page identifies this as a review, but the review text is unavailable. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined.

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Radio Times
★★★ · Lorien Haynes
60

Haynes calls the film an utterly charming gem. The review singles out Ian Bannen and David Kelly in the roles of the two avaricious old men.

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The Guardian
27 March 1999 · Lawrence Donegan
10*

Donegan strongly pans the film as unfunny and built on insulting Irish stereotypes. He particularly objects to its caricatured villagers and scenes such as nude motorcycling.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate