Director: Terry George
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Martin McCann, Colm Meaney, David O'Hara,
Yaya Alafia, Emma Hamilton
Rating: (M)
3 stars (out of 5)
Set in Belfast, Whole Lotta Sole (Rialto and Metro) was made
in 2011 when the peace process seemed to be sticking, with a
spirit of live and let live pervading.
Unfortunately, recent events have placed Belfast once more in
the news as a place of riots, making it hard to accept it as
the jolly town of this movie.
Joe Maguire (Brendan Fraser) has to get out of Boston in a
hurry, so looking after his cousin's antique shop in Belfast
seems the perfect peaceful haven. Meanwhile, on the other
side of town, young father Jimbo (Martin McCann) has got
himself in hock to the Mr Big of Belfast, Mad Dog Flynn
(David O'Hara).
Mad Dog wants his money back or else he will take Jim's baby
son for his clucky girlfriend. With no hope of getting the
money together, Jim decides to rob the fish shop Whole Lotta
Sole on Friday, when everyone knows all the Catholics will be
buying their Friday fish.
Things go bad (everyone pays electronically now days), but
Jim puts what loot he can find in a handy bag which contains
the goods on Mad Dog (who uses the fish shop as a front) and
attempts to escape. He then ends up barricaded in Joe's shop
with his baby, the woman from the dress shop and two gypsy
children. And that's when things get really complicated.
Best thing: A delightful cameo from Tom Hollander as a
senior government official determined that no political
sensibilities are offended in the siege.
Worst thing: For some reason Brendan Fraser is
considered a comic actor but he seems to have no comic timing
whatsoever.
See it with: Your bookie.
By Christine Powley.
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