Dave (Noyes, best remembered as one of Fr. Graham Norton's put-upon posse in Father Ted), is desperately seeking a job, but finds himself hitting a few speed bumps along the way. Like being turfed out of an interview for relieving himself in the boss' potted plant. Best friend Tom (Corry) isn't doing too well either, henpecked at home by a nagging wife (Murray) and, eh, cockpecked at work by his golf-loving, Birtspeaking boss. Last and by some means least, the none-too-bright Vinny (Dunne) puts his total lack of skills to good use on a building site (where the gaffer is Boyzone's Mikey Graham), impressing his co-workers by getting a sympathy date with the thong-and-mortar-board-touting hottie Janice (Dempsey). Throw in a wise old ma (Maria McDermott Roe) and a grizzled barstool philosopher (Brendan Conroy, who seems to be channeling Noel V. Ginnity), and sure the craic will be ninety, right?
THE VERDICT: Wrong. Although not half as grainy or badly lit as its trailer would suggest, Situations Vacant is, unfortunately, every bit as unfunny and unoriginal as said trailer attempts to warn. The comedy is pure Terry And June stuff, Steven Murray's script designed more for TV than the big screen. TV circa 1979.
Irish films often get a rough ride from Irish critics. That's because many, many Irish films suck. And we're keen to bury them here before they head off to other shores to embarrass the nation. A good case in point – this would-be breezy comedy about three Dublin lads in search of job fulfillment and some unbridled rumpy-pumpy.
RATING: **
Review By Paul Byrne