Pic drifts onto a familiar obstacle course for its wide-eyed hero, but displays a spirited, open-hearted goodness along the way. Combination of warmth, humor, danger and a cosmopolitan take on young, urban Eire sets pic distinctly apart.
The coming-of-age story about the corruptions of the big city has been done a few thousand times, but at least this one offers a fresh mix of open-minded intelligence and a heartfelt point of view.
Tries to break free of formula but finally succumbs to the warm glow of predictability.
40
Village Voice
Village Voice
Ostensibly a less colorful, feature-length "Queer Eye," the film also examines the apparent social trichotomy of modern Ireland, where you're either a fashion designer, a drug dealer, or a complete square.
40
L.A. WeeklyErnest Hardy
L.A. WeeklyErnest Hardy
For all the violence and breaking-up-to-make-up that go on, there's never really a sense of risk or exploration, and the film's pulse never rises above faint.