The Snapper [1993] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Des Curley (Colm Meaney), Sharon's father, shows the whole world in his face, his emotions ranging from outrage toward Sharon for embarrassing the family to tender concern as her time draws near. As the eight-member family trips all over each other emotionally (ironically symbolized in their battles for the one bathroom, often occupied by Sharon), the tensions within the family grow more intense. Widespread speculation about who the father is disrupts the neighborhood, with some hotheads visiting their own brand of justice on the Curleys. The arrival of the baby offers a chance at resolution.

Often very funny and equally often very touching, the film features actors who do not act like actors, appearing to be grounded in the very neighborhood they inhabit in the film. With the pub as social center, we see the characters' lifestyles and mores--their attitudes toward sex and childbirth, their "escapes" from the workday, their daily amusements and sense of humor, and their lack of concern with the dogma of the church.

The second in Roddy Doyle's The Barrytown Trilogy, after The Commitments, this film like The Van, which follows, features author Roddy Doyle writing his own screenplay, Stephen Frears as director, Oliver Stapleton as cinematographer, and actor Colm Meaney (playing the father Des, here) as the emotional bridge among the characters, appearing in all three films and giving a sense of continuity among them. Set in north Dublin in a lower working class neighborhood where many families spend their whole lives, the film shows the reliance on humor when life might otherwise be too tragic to handle. Mary Whipple


The Snapper   July 5, 2004
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

The Snapper is a down to earth comedy with occaisional trips into the heavens. The humour is brilliant and the subject covered gives plenty of opportunity to raise a few laughs about the real world.


A Modern Classic!   December 14, 2003
24 out of 25 found this review helpful

The Snapper is perhaps the best Irish Comedy to have ever hailed from the shores of this tiny Island. Not only are the characters fully developed, interesting, intruiging, loving and human - they are unforgettably watchable. This is a movie that you can watch over and over and over and still never tire of it! What differs the most about this Irish movie compared to others is that the main focus of the film is not the 'Irishness' or 'Oirishness' of the characters, in fact (thankfully) we are not subjected to the usual bias cultural discourse we usuall have to endure when viewing Irish movies (usually made by foreigners... about 'being Irish'), no, instead (thank God!) this film is based on a Universal theme - an unplanned pregnancy! The Script is at times hilarious, but always realistic and sympathetic. Colm Meany's relationship with his daughter (played by Tina Kelleher) is tangibly real and magnetic. The Kids are great too, in particular Joanne Gerrard as the disgruntled Teenage daugheter with wojus fashion sense, but of all the Kids it's Colm O'Byrne who really shines as the hilarious youngest 'ungrateful' Brother. This is a must see!!


Drunken Irish Fun   January 14, 2003
Joanne Sanders (Birmingham, West Mids United Kingdom)
9 out of 13 found this review helpful

If you liked The Committments you'll love this. Another drunken piece of Irish fun this will appeal to anyone who likes a good, down to earth real life comedy. Colm Meaney is absolutely outstanding as the horrified irish father who discovers his daughter is not only pregnant but that the suspicion lies with his middle aged married neighbour. Great one liners, great Irish comedy and fun. This is a must see!