WILD ABOUT HARRY
UK, 2000, 91 minutes, Colour.
Brendan Gleeson, Amanda Donohoe, James Nesbitt, Adrian Dunbar, Bronagh Gallagher, Ruth Mc Kay, Paul Barber, George Wendt.
Directed by Declan Lowney.
Wild About Harry is a modest comedy – with a very strong cast.
It is the brief focus on a marriage collapsing, especially on-air television, with Brendan Gleeson as a famous cook, sleazy in real life, making a complete fool of himself and destroying the life of a politician and his wife who are guests on his show. However, he collapses and hits his head – and experiences amnesia. He reverts to eighteen years old, does not remember anything – and so has the opportunity to start again.
While the action is more than a bit improbable, the pleasant writing and the performances make it almost plausible. Brendan Gleeson is a versatile actor who has appeared in comedies as well as serious films including Braveheart, Troy as well as portraying IRA leader Martin Cahill in The General. Amanda Donohoe (Castaway) has a very nice role, rather more quiet and subdued, as Gleeson’s estranged wife. James Nesbitt is the disgraced politician. Adrian Dunbar is Gleeson’s lawyer. Bronagh Gallagher is Amanda Donohoe’s lawyer. There is a guest appearance by George Wendt as the television producer.
The film is directed by Declan Lowney who has directed mainly for television, including the series, Father Ted.
Much better than might be expected from the synopsis – and offers a challenge to the audience to think about a broken marriage, infidelity and stupidity, the possibilities for reconciliation.
1.An interesting and entertaining film? A modest focus? The strong cast? The Irish setting?
2.The world of television, television celebrities, tantrums and performance? Home life and the picture of family?
3.The focus on Harry Mc Kee, Brendan Gleeson’s screen presence and personality? His performance on his television show? A national hero, the acclaim of the audience? His slogans and everybody imitating them? His relationship with his producer, Frankie? His relationship with his wife, the opening scenes at home, her putting the carton in the rubbish, the alienation, the children? Going to the divorce lawyers? The court? The possibility of the divorce? Harry hitting his head – and the delay?
4.Harry on TV, eccentric, adulation? The women and his affairs? His drinking? The relationship with Frankie, not taking notice of Frankie? The Adairs coming on his show, his taunting them, exposing Walter, his wife getting upset? Stalking off? The disgrace? The national and international of the scenes?
5.Harry and his waking up out of coma, amnesia? His knowing Ruth? His wanting to make everything right? The discovery of the truth? The reaction of his children, especially his son and his hostility? Ruth and her desperation? His learning what he had been like? The effect on him, weeping with his son? The possibility of change? The prospect of the divorce? Brendan Gleeson’s skill in creating the sleazy Harry as well as the repentant Harry?
6.Ruth, long-suffering, the twenty-five years, her children, at home? Absolutely exasperated? Beyond care? Going to the court, her attitude in the court, Miss Boyle and her support? Her shock at Harry’s collapse? His coming out of the coma, his courting her, the mixture of reactions, her love for him, her alienation? With the children? The nice episodes, together? Seeing him in the kitchen? Not believing him? Going through with the divorce? Coming to the TV station, on air, the confrontation – and the possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness? Harry’s immediate response and hope?
7.The children, the daughter, especially her watching the television show, with her brother watching the dinner from the lawn? The son, his exasperation, playing the drums, the confrontation with his father, his father challenging him, his change of heart, supporting his father?
8.Harry in the hospital, the professor, the prospect of coma and amnesia? The prospects?
9.J.J., his friendship with Harry, in the court, discussions, pleading with Ruth? The contrast with Miss Boyle, tough, her manner, her clothes, hairdo? In the court, arriving to take Ruth to the court, her exasperation at Ruth’s change of heart?
10.Walter Adair, his wife, coming on the show, the political personalities, the expose from Harry? Mrs Adair and her stalking off? Walter, the collapse of his life, his reappearing on the show dressed as a woman, his story about his career going, marriage broken, his suicide attempt? His wanting to destroy Harry on air? Harry’s response, trying to talk him out of it? Ruth’s arrival? Her disarming him?
11.A pleasant blend of serious issues of marital breakdown, infidelity, possibilities of reconciliation with the comic touches at home, and in the world of television?
