Screen Two (TV Series) The Snapper (1993) User Reviews

Sweet and touching, and kinda nutty

[lafftur-3 · 7/10 · 21 March 2000]

"Sequel" to The Commitments in that it follows some of the same characters (as does The Van that follows it), The Snapper is just the cure you might need for Angela's Ashes -- a portrayal of an Irish family that is kooky enough to be interesting, not drowning in abject poverty, and deeply caring for one another. The Curleys are a tad eccentric -- younger brother obsessed with bicycling, a younger sister who paints her face with shaving foam and costumes herself to pretend she is a marching band leader, middle sibs pushing the envelope at every chance -- and eldest sister Sharon, suddenly pregnant and refusing to disclose the name of the father. (pardon the pun.) Ballykissangel fans will recognise this actress as Niahm, the Garda's wife. Colm Meaney gives a beautiful performance as Desi Curley, the dad by turn bewildered and outraged then growing in his acceptance and excitement in the impending appearance of Sharon's baby -- the eponymous little "snapper". Brendan Gleeson also appears as one of Desi's pub chums, with a deft portrayal of a shy and lonely man.

One of my favorite aspects of this film is its un-Hollywood-ness -- everyone looks real. There is no slick, too-pretty feel to this movie. The dialogue is quick, thick with dialect (so listen closely, get the sounds in your ear, or you might miss some fun exchanges!) and funny enough to be real and real enough to be moving. If there is a message to this story (and I think there is!) it might be, "If we love each other, it really will all be ok." I find it to be a touching and uplifting movie.

Is that a baby, or a turkey?

[hitchcockthelegend · 8/10 · 6 April 2013]

The Snapper is directed by Stephen Frears and adapted to screenplay by Roddy Doyle from his own novel of the same name. It stars Colm Meaney, Tina Kellegher, Ruth McCabe, Fionnula Murphy and Brendan Gleeson.

The Snapper is the middle part of what became known as Roddy Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy (The Commitments and The Van either side of it). The Snapper of the title is a baby expected by young Sharon Curley (Kellegher) when she unexpectedly falls pregnant during a drunken liaison. Refusing to name who the father is, the strain on the large Curley family reaches breaking point, especially when the neighbourhood and so called friends begin to point and judge with malice. Can the Curley family pull through? It's going to need some humour and no end of Irish family grit to do so.

Affectionate realism draped in comedy, The Snapper in Frears' hands unfolds as an original take on the stress caused to a family by an unplanned pregnancy. Initially the film's structure feels bumpy, the blending of family drama with uproariously scripted comedy, but once you settle into it you realise that this is exactly how the Curley family are feeling, how they cope. As we get deeper into the picture, and there is much human depth here, peripheral characters come alive and the relationship between Sharon and her father Des (Meaney) really holds the attention whilst simultaneously tickling the requisite emotional threads.

Impeccably performed (Meaney, Kellegher and McCabe are terrific) and with a great script brought vividly to life by Frears, The Snapper is very much a recommended bowl of comedy drama Irish Stew. 8/10

It doesn't get any more Irish than this.

[=G= · 7/10 · 19 April 2004]

"The Snapper", apparently Irish slang for "baby", is all about a young Irish woman (Kellegher) who gets pregnant while living with her working class family of eight. Refusing to name the father, the town buzzes with gossip while the family takes the matter in stride with the exception of Sharon's father (Meaney) who wrestles with the matter all the way to the end. Too Irish and too wry to have broad commercial appeal, "The Snapper" is doubtless another excellent helping in the Doyle/Frears trilogy including "The Van" and "The Commitments". If you like one of the three, check out the other two. If you haven't seen any of them, be prepared for a whole lot of "bollocks", "eejit", and "s***e". (B)

Note - The film ends with the newborn nursing at his mother's breast while the grandfather downs a pint in a pub, smiling and belching with satisfaction. If you can see the earthy charm of that juxtaposition, then, perhaps, this film is for you.

oh , you have to see it!!!!!!

[amelia_j_2000 · 7 July 2000]

Roddy's gone and done it again--The film is exquisite. You will laugh 'till a lung bursts. Don't take you eyes or ears off the screen, every second counts!

Roddy Doyle can present Irish family life at its best and most painful and The Snapper will leave you gasping for more. Colm Meaney is as always amazing but pay attention to Ruth McCabe and Tina Kellegher, quick dry wit from the former and outlandish comments from the latter. Very very clever!

Unknown Little Gem

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 27 December 2020]

In the working-class Barrytown, Dublin, Ireland, the happy Curley family is composed by the father Dessie (Colm Meaney), his wife Kay, three sons and three daughters. When the twenty-year old Sharon (Tina Kellegher) discloses to her family that she is pregnant, she refuses to tell the name of the father. Soon Dessie tells the news to his friends in the pub and Sharon discloses also to her three friends in another pub. But when Dessie's friend Lester (Brendan Gleeson) overhears the old George Burgess bragging to his friends in a pub that Sharon is a great f-word, the life of Sharon and her family changes in Barrytown and she learns that she has only one real and best friend, Jackie. And Dessie tries to become a better father and husband than never, learning how to deal with women.

"The Snapper" is an unknown little gem directed by Stephen Frears. The dramatic story of a twenty-year old girl that becomes pregnant from an old man has also funny moments in the life of a working class living in Barrytown. Therefore the drama does not become heavy since there are relief moments. For people that is not native in English like me, the "snapper" in the title is Sharon´s baby. In Brazil, this film was only released on VHS and with a terrible marketing since the genre indicated on the cover by the distributor is comedy, with a photo of Sharon and her friends laughing in the pub. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Grande Família" ("The Great Family")

Best Irish Comedy Film

[rodnie · 9/10 · 3 July 2002]

This film is 'deadly'. Colm Meaney was made for the role of the lower class 'Barrytown' Da. Its full of witty dialogue and mad characters. The Commitments comes nowhere near this little gem. Its not surprising that some of the American reviewers were not impressed and called it a depressing film as appposed to a comedy, they probably couldn't understand what was being said or the sheer sarcasm of the characters lines. The fact is that Sharon Curly doesn't really deserve much sympathy, so its also comical how things go so bad on her. Everybody around the world should see this film to garner an opinion.

Warm and funny, but only superficially realistic

[DennisLittrell · 7/10 · 26 April 2003]

Fine acting by Colm Meaney (Dessie Curley) and Tina Kellegher (Sharon Curley) carry this offbeat tragi-comedy about the perils of out of wedlock pregnancy in a working class Irish family. I think the Pope would approve of how this subject was handled, if he approved of the subject being handled in the first place.

What do I mean? Well, here's an unwanted pregnancy that in the apprehension of some people could arguably be seen as a result of something about as close to a rape as it gets without technically being rape, depending upon how you define your "technically." (She was drunk and an older man took advantage of her in the parking lot of the pub.) I won't say more for fear of spoiling the plot for you, but be forewarned that some viewers will find the whole thing uncomfortable.

Roddy Doyle, the gifted fictionalist (Paddy Clarke, Ha, Ha, Ha, The Woman Who Walked into Doors, etc) wrote the novel and the screenplay. Stephen Frears (My Beautiful Laundrette 1985, Dangerous Liaisons 1988, etc.) directed. Doyle is a master of dialogue and has a warm sense of people that he imposes on his readers. Known as a realistic writer, he is actually a sentimentalist with a keen feel for the foibles of his characters.

There is a kind of TV sit-com feeling to Frears's direction in that nothing really depressing occurs. There's a neighborhood feel to the taunting, some windows are broken, and there's a fistfight, but none of the kids are on heroin or planting bombs. There's little violence and the sex depicted is minimalist. There's a sense that nothing is really wrong in the world, just some slips of behavior and some misunderstandings. You realize, for example, that despite Sharon's continued drinking the baby is not going to be born suffering from any kind of alcoholic syndrome. Furthermore, although Dessie has six kids to support, we never see him working overtime or worrying about money.

Doyle is also a political writer and has a message. His message here is that the gift of life is precious over and above how it is conceived and that narrow-minded men (grandfather-to-be Dessie Curley) can, through love, understanding and a little effort, rise above their prejudices and do the right thing and feel the right way. Politically speaking, the film walks softly and carries no banner between the two sides of the abortion question, clearly identifying with the pro-lifers without overtly offending the pro-choice side.

Perhaps it is best to leave the politics behind and, like many viewers, simply enjoy the laughs, the realistic dialogue and the warm, chaotic family atmosphere presented and save the moralizing for another day. By the way, you might have to watch this twice to catch some of the humor. Either that or have a good ear for the Irish brogue. For myself, I could have used subtitles.

(Note: Over 500 of my movie reviews are now available in my book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote!" Get it at Amazon!)

a rarity - a working-class movie

[4ize · 10/10 · 24 March 1999]

Sweet, touching but also bawdy tale of a working-class Irish family's reaction to their unmarried daughter's pregnancy. The father character is especially interesting. He takes great pride in his family, with all its imperfections. He tenderly cares for his daughter through her ordeal and holds his head high despite the neighbors' petty gossip. A real "family values" film depicting people of modest means trying to stick together.

The tribulations of Sharon Curley

[zutterjp48 · 7/10 · 7 April 2019]

Sharon Curley becomes becomes pregnant after a night of celebration and now all the town wants to know who is the father of this child. The Snapper is a touching and funny comedy about single motherhood in the nineties in Ireland.Tina Kellegher (Shron Curley) is a very good actress.And Colm Meaney is very good as Dessie Curley.

touching and funny family

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 18 April 2016]

Sharon Curley (Tina Kellegher) is a 20 year old living at home with her parents and many siblings. She announces that she's pregnant but refuses to name the father. She's keeping the baby (snapper). Her father Dessie (Colm Meaney) is supportive, and defends her against town gossip about the identity of the father.

This is the second of Roddy Doyle's "Barrytown Trilogy". Due to rights issue, the Rabbitte family name isn't used. It's a TV movie but it does have a cinematic feel. The acting is so great especially Meaney and Kellegher. They make the characters come alive. Their boisterous personalities come across as family relations. This is both touching and funny. It is brilliant.

Rambunctious romp

[MikeyB1793 · 7/10 · 20 March 2011]

This is enjoyable and energized. Colm Meaney is a bundle of fun, a hoot and essentially lovable– who would have thought that (I'm thinking of his role in Star Trek and there is one joke in the film alluding to this).

The film is about his eldest daughter in his large family (I could never count all his kids) getting pregnant. Eventually all the neighbours get wind of this and then the back-stabbing starts in earnest.

Sometimes it does get a little like a soap opera. Irish stereo-types abound - children aplenty and drinking. But it's essentially a lot of fun.

The Snapper

[dracher · 10/10 · 28 May 2008]

We live in a world where words have become overused, "great" is used to describe breakfast and "excellent" describes the feeling of receiving an expected letter on time.

In my honest opinion, "The Snapper" is a classic, in every sense of the old meaning of the word.

Here is a beautifully written piece to begin with, a beautifully crafted piece to expand, and a great achievement in directing and acting out a work that is so much a classic of Dublin life and its wonderful people. This very funny and often heart wrenching film, is a work of art that belongs alongside James Joyce and a host of other great Irish artists. It goes beyond comedy or drama, in its ability to reveal the very heart and soul of human existence, and at the same time, touch ours.

The Snapper is much more than an entertaining and very funny story, which it is by every inch, it is also a great classic of Dublin life, not the life of the Blooms, but of the Curleys.

Regards, Dracher

Noisy and Annoying

[billcr12 · 3/10 · 21 March 2018]

I recently watched The Guard for a second time and was in the mood for another Irish comedy. The Snapper was a poor choice. A twenty year old girl living with her mother, father and four fellow siblings becomes pregnant and will not name the dad. Most of the film takes place in pubs with the expectant mother drinking heavily with three other girls. This is not funny, and I do not understand the 7+ rating on IMDB. Stay away from this noisy mess and instead check out The Guard for Brendan Gleeson's brilliant performance.

A delightful romp about families sticking together

[juergie123 · 9 February 2003]

This film is a delightful romp about a large, boisterous Dublin family which gets turned upside down when the eldest daughter unexpectedly becomes pregnant. Strong-willed Sharon Curley (Tina Gellegher) refuses to discuss who got her "up the pole," but is equally adamant about not wanting to get an abortion. She keeps her head held high as friends needle her, neighbors whisper, and younger brothers and sisters ask wide-eyed questions. Colm Meaney gives a standout performance as Sharon's dad, expertly revealing a gamut of emotions, from rage to sorrow to curiosity about the birth process to exhilaration at the prospect of becoming a granddad. Ruth McCabe plays the soft- spoken but strong-as-an-ox Irish mom to perfection. While it gets a tad slow towards the end, this film is a great rental if you want a light-hearted yet heart-warming celebration of family-- in all its gory and splendor.

About as good as the first

[movieman_kev · 9/10 · 21 December 2004]

The Irish family, the Curleys, return. This time out Sharon Curley is pregnant and refuse to tell anyone who the father is. Having seen "The Commitments" (great film by the way), I was looking forward to seeing the second in the trilogy. And yes it's as good as the first, if not better as it seems to be more of a personal film I didn't really care for how Sharon's friends carried on in the beginning, but all the characters are believable and Colm Meany seems to be born to play Dessie Curley. One of the far to few films that take a pro-life stance (as soft as the stance may be) And I look forward to being able to watch "The Van" as soon as possible.

My Grade: B+

maybe this is what it takes

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 30 May 2006]

"The Snapper" may not be the sort of movie that you would usually notice, but it is definitely worth seeing. Portraying 20-year-old Dubliner Sharon Curley (Tina Kellegher) getting pregnant and refusing to identify the father, the movie makes the most of itself. Crappy flicks like "Nine Months" have dealt with pregnancy, but this one is actually interesting. Aside from the fact that it shows working-class life in Ireland, we also get to see how dad Dessie (Colm Meaney) had for so long ignored the female reproductive system - despite his wife Kay's (Ruth McCabe) many pregnancies - but now starts to take an interest in that.

All in all, this is a modern masterpiece. It has something for everyone. All that I can say further is: Erin go bragh!

Modern dysfunctionality pulls through

[deanofrpps · 8/10 · 6 April 2004]

picture a Simpsons where lisa comes home and announces a blessed event that happened after a drunken liason with an unknown older man in a parking lot and decides to keep the wee "tot" and there you have colm meaney's snapper

the movie did give rise to much controversy over illegitimacy and family values. but even the simpsons teaches american legitimacy is one of the world's most questionable state of affairs. it's hard to be judgemental toward the characters.

where they may fail in virtue they win in tenacity and endurace

excellent performance by colm meany ,,, and indeed a liberal irish father he was in that the erring daughter lived to giver birth

If you have a unique Irish sense of humour, you will love it!!!

[teresa-dodd · 10/10 · 16 April 2003]

I thought this film was one of the best Irish films made, It was the phrases they used, the way they used them and the excellent acting of all the characters.

I was laughing all the way through it, actually every time i think about this film it brings a smile to my face. If you have a unique Irish sense of humour, you have got to see it!!!

Probably the Worst Movie I ever Saw.

[ninafranco · 1/10 · 20 June 2016]

This movie was wrong in so many ways. I watched it because I am a fan of Colm Meaney, not only from "Star Trek", but "Hell on Wheels," "The Englishman Who Climbed...", but if you are also a fan, DO NOT WATCH, it will make you doubt any morality, sensibility , or intelligence Mr. Meany had in accepting this part. The basic premise is a young woman, (Colm Meaney's daughter ), gets so drunk that she is unable to fend off the sexual attack by the father of her best friend. Getting pregnant by this encounter, she is too embarrassed to say who the father is so she makes up a tale about a sailor. The rapist becomes unhinged and begins to stalk her, following her with declarations of undying love. Her father tells her she needs to relax and encourages her to go out DRINKING with her friends! The worst thing is that this is supposed to be a comedy!!!!! So let me summarize, BINGE DRINKING, RAPE OF A SEMI- CONSCIOUS WOMAN, SHAMING THE VICTIM, STALKING, DRINKING WHILE PREGNANT. Who the hell thought this was a good idea for a movie--why the hell did it get awards!!!!

Me bollix!

[Dermot-6 · 30 October 2001]

This is up there the all time great Irish comedy films. From beginning to end this is a riot of a film. It portrays the life of Sharon Curley played by Tina Kellegher. She becomes pregnant after a night on the booze and realises eventually, that the father is the local U-12 soccer coach, who just happens to be older than her father. The gossips soon get the news around and Sharon becomes the joke of the neighbourhood.

This really shows the ups and downs of single motherhood in early nineties Dublin. Colm Meaney is brilliant as Dessie Curley with some memorable quotes and one liners. Also look out for Brendan Gleeson as Lester. Well worth a look.

One of the best!!

[eff.oh.bee · 10/10 · 10 September 2001]

This is a film that is best viewed repeatedly!! There is so much going on, that when you watch it a second, or third time you notice things you missed on earlier viewings. It is the kind of film where I find myself constantly saying "Ooh, I love this bit" or "This is the best bit".

Long live (and God help) the Irish!

[double_c · 9/10 · 27 January 2002]

This movie is a warm and life affirming comedy about a working-class Irish family dealing with the impending motherhood of their eldest daughter. The circumstances of this drunken accident soon have the entire neighborhood up in arms! There are uniformly good performances but two in particular anchor this movie. Colm Meany (best known to American audiences as Chief Miles O'Brien on "Star Trek") gives one of his typically outstanding performance as Dessie Curley, the family patriarch who is just in way over his head. His struggles to deal with this situation run the gamut from hilarious to heartbreaking. he is well matched by Tina Kellegher as his daughter Sharon, truly ashamed over the position she has put herself and her family in ( a reaction most American girls have long since become incapable of) but determined to make the best of it. Contrary to some reviews I found nothing depressing about this movie. The fact that these are very average, not even terribly attractive people living in drab surroundings makes this film even more resonating to the audience, who find themselves drawn into the Curley's situation and rooting for them every step of the way. Nor do I think it is correct to call this family "dysfunctional". They work well together and band together to help Sharon despite their misgivings. They function as a family even IF some of the individuals are a little off (and the little girl in the marching band uniform is a LOT off). I have only one major criticism of this great little movie. Despite having gotten pregnant while drunk Sharon continues to drink throughout the rest of the movie,despite being pregnant, even going on a memorable (and admittedly very funny) bender just days before going into labor. this is irresponsible to do -and to be shown-and loses Sharon some of the large mass of sympathy she gains. But all in al this is a funny and tender film that will leave with a smile--and maybe even a happy tear or two. 7.5 out of 10

Timeless!

[obyrneniamh · 8/10 · 22 October 2007]

A Timeless Classic that puts Dublin humour centre stage! Brilliantly written dialogue that just gets funnier with each viewing. Catch-phrases abound. Acting is superb. Cinematography & lighting excellently gritty. Sentiment perfectly delivered without ever being maudlin' or cheesy. Characterisations are true to life as are the antics and scandal-hungry gossips of Dublin's sprawling housing estates. Andrea Corr appears for a brief moment. Tina Kelleher is wonderful. Joanne Gerrard is hilarious as the obnoxious teenage girl. Colm Meany is adorable as the flummoxed Dad. Brendan Gleeson is effortlessly watchable. Brilliant direction. Memorable Soundtrack. Superb writing. A True cult classic that will never age. My only question is ... why are there no distribution deals for this movie in Ireland!? It can only be bought on Canadian DVD!

Irish sarcasm and wit at its best

[MsMuinteoir · 10/10 · 18 September 2010]

What a fantastic film. I recently watched it for the first time in years and, true to form, it had me keeling over with laughter once again. "The Snapper" is Irish humour at its best. One of the best bits is surely Dessie's "I suppose a ride is out of the question?". And no, he's not asking his wife to give him a lift to the pub :) He's seeking a different kind of thrill altogether! This film provides a wonderful insight into, and reflection of, Irish humour. It abounds with sarcasm and pure Irish wit. As an Irish person born and living in Ireland, I identify with this film on many levels - although I did not grow up in a household anywhere near as eventful as the Curleys' one! Nowadays the parts where the pregnant Sharon drinks away to her heart's content may well have been left out, since so much has since been discovered about the effects alcohol can have on an unborn child. However, it goes without saying that there are women the world over drinking themselves to oblivion throughout the pregnancies! Everything about this film is realistic. Colm Meaney gives a wonderful performance and he never even seems as though he's acting! There's nothing false about "The Snapper", simply a realistic storyline where what at first seems like a tragic event is accepted and dealt with through jaw-breaking humour.

Warning!

[Walkabou · 1/10 · 8 August 1998]

This movie is not a comedy. It is very depressing.