The Flag – Film Review By Charlotte Reid

Directed by Declan Recks
Starring Pat Shortt, Moe Dunford, Ruth Bradley, Brian Gleeson, Simone Kirby, Peter Campion

Pat Shortt plays Harry Hambridge, an Irish builder living in London who soon finds himself jobless and struggling to pay the rent on his flat. When his Aunt rings to tell him his Father has died, a trip home to Ireland reignites his passion for life as he discovers it was his Grandfather who lifted the Irish flag on the GPO in 1916. The problem is the flag is being kept by the British so Harry uses the help of his old friend Mouse and his ex-builder colleagues to return the flag to its rightful owners. As they plot to break into the British army barracks, Harry reignites his feelings for his old friend Liz and discovers that he still has plenty of adventures left in him.

The idea is full of heart and the cast is impressive, but by promising a comedy most people will leave disappointed. The jokes are so obvious they fall flat and when toilet humour is being used half an hour in you know you’re in trouble. The stereotypical Irish jokes wear thin from the off and the word ‘shite’ is so overused it’s practically a character. Everything is hammered home just in case you didn’t get it – he’s poor so he only has one mug, the patriotic English thugs have a tattoo of the union jack on their necks. The romantic side-plot feels a little lacklustre and we’re more invested in his friendship with Mouse than we are with Liz, lovely as she is. There isn’t a particularly strong plot to fall back on either, at times you might get caught up in another ridiculous chase scene and then you remember it’s all leading up to them getting the flag. Yes it’s signifying bigger things, but it still feels like Harry would need a bit more to keep him distracted, he’s essentially homeless throughout the whole film.

While you don’t particularly care if they get the flag or not, the cast do keep the film going and it meanders its way towards the credits rather than drags. It’s interesting to see the likes of Moe Dunford in a more comedic role. Brian Gleeson and Peter Campion are predictable as the dumb duo but they’re very watchable. It’s a shame that Harry’s love rival Don was so underused, he had some better lines than Shortt.

You won’t be falling off your chair in hysterics but there is a feel good element to it that keeps you a little invested, how well that will come across internationally I don’t know. It’s not terrible and if you’re looking for a very easy watch then go ahead and check it out, if it wasn’t for the language it would feel like one for the kids. But if you want something with a bit more weight then go for something else, as Shortt said himself at the premiere “I wouldn’t be thinking too much about it now”.