Waking Ned Devine

1998

Waking Ned Devine

Critics Consensus

A heartwarming comedy with a delightfully light touch, Waking Ned Devine finds feel-good humor in some unexpected -- and unexpectedly effective -- places.

83%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 60

88%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 28,808
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Movie Info

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 their 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
  • Rating:
    PG (for nudity, language and thematic elements)
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Directed By:
    Kirk Jones
  • Written By:
    Kirk Jones
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Twentieth Century Fox

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Cast

Ian Bannen
as Jackie O'Shea
David Kelly
as Michael
Fionnula Flanagan
as Annie
Susan Lynch
as Maggie
James Nesbitt
as Pig Finn
Maura O'Malley
as Mrs. Kennedy
Robert Hickey
as Maurice
Paddy Ward
as Brendy
James Ryland
as Dennis Fitzgerald
Fintan McKeown
as Pat Mulligan
Matthew Devitt
as Tom Tooney
Eileen Dromey
as Lizzy Quinn
Kitty Fitzgerald
as Kitty
Dermot Kerrigan
as Father Patrick
Jimmy Keogh
as Ned Devine
Brendan F. Dempsey
as Jim Kelly/Lotto Man
Larry Randall
as Father Mulligan
Eamonn Doyle
as Dicey, The Fiddleman
Raymond MacCormac
as Baudron Player
Rennie Campbell
as Rennie
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Critic Reviews for Waking Ned Devine

All Critics (60) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (10)

View All Critic Reviews (60)

Audience Reviews for Waking Ned Devine

  • Jun 30, 2018
    A quaint little Irish village gets excited when they realise someone there may have won the national lottery worth millions. In the meantime, we get a chance to look in on the hopes and dreams they share. It's a nice visit indeed, missing only the taste of beer from the local pub.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Aug 12, 2013
    I don't really have much to say about this movie, it has some fine performances from its cast. But there's this feeling of overt sentimentality emanating from this film. It is never nauseating and there's not one specific scene I can point to, it's just the overall tone of the film is sentimental. The movie is also never as clever as it wants to be, but that's not a problem because the movie is still funny and charming. I did like the setting very much...it adds character to the film. And at least the movie doesn't let its characters become unlikable with their actions, their reasoning is sound and they do plan to do good with that money, instead of it going to the government due to Ned's passing. The whole thing is fairly predictable, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining. This is a charming little movie with a really good cast.
    Jesse O Super Reviewer
  • Mar 28, 2010
    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. There'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
    Matthew R Super Reviewer
  • Jul 19, 2009
    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 ^_^
    Ginny   Super Reviewer
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