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Zonad

Zonad

Zonad rated 4

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Release Date: 17 March 2010
Directors: John Carney, Kieran Carney
Starring: Simon Delaney, Janice Byrne, Donna Dent, Rory Keenan.
Details: IRELAND/82mins 15A

To put it simply, sans hyperbole or over-articulation, Zonad is very funny. John Carney had a huge surprise hit with Once a couple of years back, which seems to have given him the wiggle room he needed to go out and tackle this kind of quirky production. Co-directing here with his brother Kieran and casting his Bachelor's Walk star Simon Delaney in the lead role, you get the impression that, creatively, everyone was on the same page.

The set-up is, of course, inherently ridiculous, but the cast all play it so unabashedly straight that it's often hilarious. The Carney siblings even manage to give the film scale on a slight budget, by shooting smartly and not over directing - something many an Irish director has been guilty of before.

During a meteor shower being watched by the naive inhabitants of a small town in rural Ireland, a strange man turns up in a local family's living room. Dressed in a red latex jumpsuit, he appears to have hastily consumed whatever was in their fridge, and then passed out on the floor. Once awoken, he tells them he's Zonad, an extra terrestrial from another planet, sent to earth on a reconnaissance mission. Taken in by the naive family as one of their own, Zonad is soon taking advantage of his new found celebrity status in the village - boozing for free and whoring about like his life depended on it.

This is the kind of film that, if directed and written by folk not from these shores, could've been an absolute disaster. There's a very thin line between funny and absurd with stories of this ilk, but when the filmmakers, and indeed their actors, are acutely aware of the tone they want, it can work wonderfully. The sardonic, overlapping comments from villagers, the purposely stereotyped supporting characters; all of these elements have given us a surprisingly original and amusing film.

Delaney really grasps the opportunity presented to him here with both hands; showing a strong ability for physical comedy. The supporting cast are universally stellar, with Janice Byrne picking up a well deserved IFTA nomination, and Don Wycherley having a blast as the strangely sadistic cop with his own unique way of enforcing the law. A rare occasion where an Irish comedy might actually put bums on seats - this deserves every success it finds.

Review by Mike Sheridan :
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Your Reviews

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Let's be realistic. - Frederic

Humour is an art. This movie is an insult to itelligence. A fat drunk in a cheao SM red suit, a walking helmet and sun glasses pass himself for an alien... That is some seriously worked scenario. All... MORE
Review Published 10 May 2010

Star Rating: Frederic has rated Zonad  rated 1

Dreadfully Unfunny - water_wolf

Realising that they only had a small budget with which to make this movie, the directors had a brain wave. Why not reuse the old Ballykissangel sets in Avoca that Board Failte are still trying to... MORE
Review Published 21 April 2010

Star Rating: water_wolf has rated Zonad  rated 1

A Love or hate movie!! - fredP

I'd loved it, If you like Father Ted, Blazing Saddles, that kind of thing you'll like this movie. Went to see it twice!! Very Funny..
Review Published 31 March 2010

Star Rating: fredP has rated Zonad  rated 5

WORST MOVIE EVER! - Thanatos_elNyx

This is definately the worst movie I have ever seen. I can't believe I managed to sit right through to the end and not run screaming from the cinema.
Review Published 29 March 2010

Star Rating: Thanatos_elNyx has rated Zonad  rated 1

Awful, just awful - Paul

I find it very hard to understand all the positive reviews this movie got. One of the worst I have ever seen and just not funny. There is only so much humour in a fat guy in latex pretending to be an... MORE
Review Published 25 March 2010

Star Rating: Paul has rated Zonad  rated 1

fantastic - billythehick

I laughed my head off, it's like a feature length father ted. Some scenes don't quite work (the odd musical number, a bizarre training montage) but the film as a whole is a hoot, a ton of fun, and... MORE
Review Published 23 March 2010

Star Rating: billythehick has rated Zonad  rated 4

CRAP - cinema1

seriously... Had enough after 10 minutes and left.. CRAP, CRAP, CRAP...........Wouldn't even waste a star rating on it..
Review Published 23 March 2010

Star Rating: cinema1 has rated Zonad  rated 1

CRAP - carolinexx

This is the Greatest load of Crap Ive ever been to see! An hour & god knows how long of my life i'm never getting back! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!
Review Published 22 March 2010

Star Rating: carolinexx has rated Zonad  rated 1

Watchable at best - andrewire

Memo to the filmmakers: Never again include the funniest moments of your comedy film in the trailer. Zonad looked so good back in January when I saw the trailer for the first time. It seemed to be... MORE
Review Published 21 March 2010

Star Rating: andrewire has rated Zonad  rated 3

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