Had potential but too many bits that don't work well and a stupid subplot
24 January 2003
Northern Irish TV chef Harry has a history of playing around, being drunk and fighting with his wife. On the eve of his divorce hearing, Harry is beaten up at a garage but goes to work the next day. Acting increasingly disorientated and unusual he finally slips into a coma. Coming out of the coma later, Harry thinks he is 18 and can't remember anything past that. His wife doesn't tell him what a total s*** he has been and tries to form him into a better person. But when Harry discovers his recent past he is shaken and tries to carry on as normal.

When I saw this advertised I saw the great cast and wanted to see it immediately. The plot didn't sound too great – how many `kid in adult's body' things have we seen – and this one sounded like a recipe (sorry) for disaster. The opening scenes are funny, with a great joke at the expense of the sheer horror of daytime TV, but it soon turns into sentimentality that doesn't always work. The central relationship between Harry and Ruth doesn't always convince but it is OK and mostly avoids being syrupy despite being a bit sentimental.

The sub-plot about the disgraced politician is just plain silly and is clearly a very silly idea whose sole purpose is to create some sort of climax to the main romance. It simply doesn't work and just adds to the feeling that this is a film that began with an idea but wasn't fully developed and, as a result, has too many bits that simply don't work very well.

The great cast is mostly wasted. Gleeson is on good form and is an enjoyable character in the lead. Donohoe is also good and her accent is pretty good despite slipping occasionally. Dunbar is a good actor but has little to do here in a small role. Nesbit is a great actor from my hometown of Coleraine. Sadly here he plays the absurd disgraced politician who is ruined by Harry on live TV – it's a silly role and the only thing that it does for Nesbit's career is that it shows he'll do any old tat! `Cheer's' Wendt is funny in a small role as Harry's producer and is typical of a well known and talented cast.

It's a shame that they are pretty much wasted in a daffy plot that mixes a good idea with some touches that simply don't work. At heart this is a romance with potential but it has too many bits that are half baked although much of the central romance is enjoyably sweet without being overly sickly sweet.
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