Movies.ie

• Critic rating
• Currently 4/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

It was the success of the Oscar fave Once that gave Carney the initiative – and the budget, no doubt – to adapt his own 2003 short of the same name into a full-length feature. Simon Delaney returns from that early outing as the alcoholic rehab facility escapee, Liam, who, having done a runner, ends up sprawled out – and spaced out, after a quick binge - on the living room carpet of the sweetly naive stargazing Cassidy family. Having used a fancy dress party as his moment to escape, Liam is dressed as a critter from outer space– and is more than happy to pretend that he is just that when he realises the amount of free drink, food and lovers that will come his way. Ballymoran is Zonad's for the taking. Until, that is, his fellow escapee (Pearse) turns up, looking for a slice of the love action.

THE VERDICT: Like a particularly inspired Father Ted episode, Zonad is a comic gem. From Ireland. Think about that. Here, at last, is an Irish comedy where you laugh in all the right places. And for all the right reasons. 

Who knew the man who gave us Once had it in him to be so funny? Then again, Carney was once the bass player for The Frames, so, he clearly has a sense of humour.

Decked out in a red PVC catsuit and a Buck Rogers helmet, Delaney looks like a cross between Mr. Incredible at his lowest ebb and Ralf Hutter after a nasty bike fall. It's impossible not to laugh. Thankfully, the jokes here are just as funny, Zonad playing like a long lost Ealing classic. 

Review by Paul Byrne

• Avg User rating
• Currently 2/5 Stars.

User Reviews

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  enigmab17

  

  I'm a bit on the ropes on this one, aslong as you go into it not expecting the best piece of filming ever you will be pleasantly surprised.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  razorblade_kiss

  

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  Mcmurphy

  

  What a laugh this movie was a gr8 cast actin and accents r not the best but its a spoof of the b movies from the 50s

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  ging-grr

  

  Has some good laugh out loud moments. Not fantastic but can think of many worse ways to spend your time.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  Dan_lloyd

  

  Very enjoyable Irish humour film.. not for everybody but a bit of fun

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  peteclarke

  

  not bad at all, some very funny moments. defo worth a look

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  Swagga Whaa

  

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  lynnieb62

  

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  mart

  

  good irish movie with a few laughs, nothing special though

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  ssconnolly

  

  It's been a long time since we got an Irish comedy film this good. In the last year alone we had the decent Eamon and the dreadful Happy Ever Afters and Situations Vacant. But now Zonad is here to show that the Irish can still do funny. Coming from an unlikely source with Once writer/director John Carney at the helm Zonad is an original, extremely funny and wonderfully authentic film. I will admit I had low expectations but now this has become one of the most surprisingly enjoyable films of the year for me. The films humour is somewhat familiar, no doubt the Carney brothers were devoted Father Ted fans. They by no means steal jokes or gags and the familiarity comes only from the style, which is comparable to the Craggy Island set comedy show. Simon Delaney is exceptional as the title character. He is perfect as Zonad and provides most of the jokes. The supporting cast are great too and after seeing the insulting Leap Year it was nice to see some old school, traditional Irish humor on the big screen. I would highly recommend this film as it is the best Irish film I've seen in years. The cast do very well and are hilarious, it is brilliantly written and directed and the whole Irish lifestyle thing which goes so wrong so often is done perfectly aswell. So all in all this is a great Irish film and one which I can't see many Irish people not enjoying.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  andrewire

  

  Why do film-makers include the funniest bits of a film in the trailer? Zonad's best laughs were in the teaser and theatrical trailers. Although, there are plenty more "funny" moments in it, none delivers a laugh-out-loud joke or situation. Fortunately, the movie works because of the splendid cast. All of them were good: Byrne shines as Jenny but her character is practically ignored in the second half of the film; Delaney hits all the right notes with Zonad and Pearse is possibly the funniest character in it as Bonad. Another special mention to the original score which was fantastic. Pity the sound editing was poor. It was the only thing in the movie that made me feel disappointed because the projection in the theatre [Cineworld] wasn't great. I read a couple of reviews here saying that Zonad was a pedophile, a comment I found ludicrous --with the respect of the user who posted-- given the silliness of the story. They don't take themselves too seriously in Zonad. The intention wasn't to send a message about "Zonad the podophile" but to create comedy out of a teen character and her desperate attempts to lose her virginity. Anyway, give Zonad a try but don't expect too much.

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  trouble

  

  Its just far too silly, there are one or two good ideas but overall its an embarrassment to the Irish nation.

• • Currently 1/5 Stars.

  eliza64

  

  This film made me feel uncomfortable. Zonad is a phedophile. set in ballykissangle it could have been good.I love irish films, it's great to reconise the locations and the actors but it went too far. Sex with schoolgirls is not funny. It was funny with the mother though he should have stuck to the older women in the village.

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  WildRose86

  

  Doesn't take itself too seriously at all, knows that it won't be appreciated, but tries anyway. A giggle or two, nothing amazing. Don't rush out to see it.

• • Currently 1/5 Stars.

  aaron

  

  Saw this last week...had very low expectations and they were met...poorly made,clearly filmed on the cheap and lacking any real laugh out loud moments..a solid one star movie