Waiting for Dublin

"Waiting For Dublin" is a modest, unassuming little charmer set in the peaceful Irish countryside just a few months prior to the end of World War II (Ireland being a "neutral" country in the conflict). Mike (Andrew Keegan) is an American fighter pilot whose plane goes off course, stranding him and his British co-pilot, "Twickers" (Hugh O'Connor), in a village just chock full of lovable eccentrics and cranks, brimming over with thick brogues and quaint, old-fashioned country ways. Mike is also one "kill" shy of the five he needs to officially become a flying ace and to win the $10,000 bet he inadvertently made with Al Capone's nephew back in the States right before heading off to war. The opportunity for achieving that goal comes in the form of a German flyer who finds himself stuck in the same town. Now all Mike has to do is to somehow convince the affable chap to let him shoot him out of the sky so the American can claim his fifth victim and win both his title and his wager.

With cleverness and wit and more than a touch of the customary blarney, "Waiting For Dublin" doesn't add up to very much in the end, but the truth is it really doesn't care that it doesn't - and, quite frankly, neither do we. For its greatest charm lies in its not trying to be anything more than just a pleasantly innocuous, no-sweat-no-strain kind of offbeat diversion. And at that it succeeds very well - even if it does go off the rails a bit towards the end. Pleasant performances, lovely cinematography, and a fine sense of atmosphere are just icing on the cake.

It's not a movie you're likely to remember much about years after having seen it, but it makes for enjoyable enough viewing while you're at it.

There is one major flaw in this picture and many will never forgive it.It's like in the great film "A man called Joe"later remade and updated as"Always".In the original a pilot is shot down attacking a "German "aircraft carrier.For those non students of the war,there were no German aircraft carriers.Well in this film Al Capone was in jail in 1931 NEVER to be released for a New Years eve party during WW11 to make the bet this films stakes its premise on.So IF you can get over that major flaw,is a kinda fun film,as much as WW11 can be fun. But back to the story that is interesting and off beat.A bet is made that this young pilot will or will not become a "ace"during the war,which means shoot down 5 planes.He crash lands in Ireland being a plane short of his goal, and then finds out a German plane and pilot are also there.Ireland being a neutral country will intern them in Dublin for the duration.However our pilot meets a lass and a blind WW1 vet and together with his English co-pilot hatch a plot to shoot the German plane down and get his "ace"standing.Add to the mix in a German agent out to kill the German pilot,well it does get silly for a war time film.The cast try but is "b"at best.So if your looking for the off beat,you can do a lot worse.

I was almost dissuaded from watching this because of the mediocre reviews, even though the plot sounded good, in an off-beat kind of way. Well, the wife and I watched it and enjoyed it quite a bit. It was very refreshing and the characterizations were all very well done. Sure, it may be made only a level above the old Hogan's Heros TV show, but then I enjoyed that, as well. If you (as I) are tired off all the bloody shoot'em ups, gravity defying car chases, and uber explosions, then give this small movie a view. It is not big budget, but all the acting and production values are good. And all the people are warm and genuine.

Yes as one of the reviewers said previously there are two major errors in the scenario. But this is not important. It's fiction and it's funny. It reminds me in some ways of the other film that takes place in Ireland too If I'm remembering well: "Saving Grace" The plot is utterly funny here too, the characters are gorgeous especially one of the Germans hitchhiking and bribing the cop with his whiskey not to say the rest of the action which I wont reveal. I had a good laugh and enjoyed it very much. As usual the critics are downgrading a film either if it's not violent or if you just don't take your head between your hands and don't "mea culpa's" on the miseries of the whole planet!