Small Engine Repair

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It's tough being an Irish film director or producer these days, knowing that no matter how good your film might be, the number of people willing to hand over money to see it are very small indeed. Especially when you're competing with the likes of Die Hard, Shrek et al, which is the yardstick when it comes to bums on seats, and that's where we need to be aiming for. For your consideration, here's Small Engine Repair, a low budget Irish film that centres on the mild-mannered Doug (Glen), a jack-of-all-trades handyman looking to break into the world of country & western music. The shy Doug is convinced by his buddy Bill (Mackintosh) - owner of a ragbag engine repair shop - to send his demo tape into the local radio station and ask the proprietor of the local bar for a gig. Doug is unsure, but when he finds his live-in girlfriend (Kathy Keira Clarke) with another man, he feels he has nothing left to lose and gives his career the holly. A coming of age drama about a man in his late '40s is an odd one, and although the film isn't without its faults, it has an endearing quality. Okay, so it's not the best film you'll ever see, but writer/director Niall Heery has to be praised for realising exactly what he wanted to do. The only thing in question is - and herein lies the rub - how many people are going to be interested in what he's done? Heery places his story in a small community in an unnamed, heavily-wooded corner of the country, but it might as well be on the Bayou with its country soundtrack, beards, bar brawls, baseball caps, deer hunting and pick-up trucks. There is definitely a Deep South vibe going on here that's convincing, but why try to convince us of this? What's the point of it all? Small Engine Repair boasts well-rounded characters that move and talk like real people, sub-plots that pay off nicely and performances that keep you watching. However, there's no hero as such to root for, and this ultimately lets the film down.