Man About Dog (DVD)

A shaggy dog story about greyhound racing in Ireland, Man About Dog is a flimsy, parochial, comedy which just about gets away with it thanks to the relentless energy of its script and cast. Director Paddy Breathnach reinvigorated the Irish film scene with his wonderful I Went Down in 1997, but he has never quite fulfilled the promise that film showed. While his new film is amiable enough, it's also a somewhat forgettable affair that seems unlikely to fare well outside of its native country.

Essentially the story of three Belfast scallies who get in way above their heads. Man About Dog is a cross-country caper film that tries to portray Ireland in a new light but, consciously or not, still has plenty of stereotypes popping in and out of its script. The troubles rear their head in the first few minutes when the unfortunate Scud (Ciaran Nolan) crashes his mobile shop into a local leader's house. Scud is cursed with bad luck and when his two cohorts Mo (Allen Leach) and Paulsey (Tom Murphy) decide to get into the greyhound game, they are like lambs waiting to be sacrificed.

For reasons presumably to do with plot expedience, the three lads are soon in debt to a local Mr Big and have no choice but to leave the country, armed only with Spud's van and a distinctly mangy-looking greyhound of their own. Deciding that the dog is a dud, they sell it to some local gypsies in the Republic, only to discover, all too late, that once faced with a hare the dog turns into a super-canine. The three hatch a plan to steal the animal back, but inevitably find themselves being chased by not only Mr. Big, but what seems like half of Southern Ireland's gypsy community. Along the way however, there is time for a few pints, an awkward encounter at a sperm bank and picking up a girl or two here and there, before they eventually arrive at the Irish coursing championship in Clonmel to see their dog unexpectedly battle its way through the qualifying rounds all the way to the final where it meets an utterly predictable opponent.
This is light and frothy stuff, but lacks any memorable edge. Some of the set-pieces do work, notably involving the gypsies (fans of Father Ted will be pleased to recognise the gypsy leader), but it does drag at times thanks to the flimsy and haphazard nature of its script. The three leads do play well together however and their tireless efforts make the whole thing watchable. Similar in tone to last year's Scottish comedy One Last Chance, which also dealt with three youngsters trying to escape the tedium of their daily life, it's unlikely to set the cinematic world alight.

A very funny film a must have in anyones collection good for those who love comedys and english humour.