--- title: "Waking Ned: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/waking-ned/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/waking-ned" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Waking Ned (1998): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 9 reviews: 5 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. 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 — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 1998. 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. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-nov-20-ca-45396-story.html) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 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. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/waking-ned-review/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 19 March 1999. 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. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/waking-ned-review/) ## The New York Times — Stephen Holden Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 1998. The review is positive about the comedy’s appeal. It singles out its lively Irish setting and eccentric characters. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/20/movies/film-review-we-have-a-winner-too-bad-he-s-dead.html) ## Variety — Derek Elley Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 September 1998. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/waking-ned-devine-2-1200455141/) ## The AV Club — Joshua Klein Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2002. 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. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/waking-ned-devine-1798196001) ## Time Out — TJ Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies this as a review, but the review text is unavailable. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/waking-ned) ## Radio Times — Lorien Haynes Rating 3/5. 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. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-l3ggcw/waking-ned/) ## The Guardian — Lawrence Donegan Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 1999. 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/books/1999/mar/27/books.guardianreview4) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/waking-ned.md