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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, says there are some unique hilarious comedy classics on RTE and TG4 today…
‘Hamilton’ mastermind, Lin-Manuel Miranda, voices Vivo (Saturday 6.35pm RTE1), a lonely kinkajou (a tropical rainforest mammal – I had to look it up!), who travels from Havana to Miami to attend the farewell concert of singer Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan).
Martha was also the first love of Vivo’s owner Andres, who had sent her a song telling her of his feelings for her, because that was far easier than actually telling her. Unfortunately, Andres passes away, hence Vivo’s resolve to make certain she hears the song.
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As you might imagine, the journey is an adventure in itself with very little running smoothly, but this is a delightful animation story written and directed by Kirk De Micco.
The music is written by Miranda’s Hamilton colleague Alex Lacamoire, so you know the tunes are good.
Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) is a successful lawyer in Liar Liar (Saturday 9.15pm RTE2) who gives precedence to his career over spending time with his young son Max (Justin Cooper).
Worse again, he regularly lies about the reasons to Max and his ex-wife Audrey (Maura Tierney)
So when Max makes a birthday wish that his father cannot lie for a single day, life gets very honest and very difficult for Fletcher, especially as he is trying to get through a high profile divorce settlement case.
This fun and imaginative comedy hit also stars Jennifer Tilly, Gary Elwes and Amanda Donohoe, but the star turn is undoubtedly Carrey at his manic best.
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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Saturday 9.25pm RTE1) is a rather gentile comedy about seven English pensioners who, for various reasons, decide to make a fresh start by staying at a hotel in Jaipur, India which looks very impressive in the advertisement.
Unfortunately, the reality is somewhat different, when they find on their arrival that the building is in a dilapidated state.
However, they are won over by the energetic and enthusiastic young manager, Sonny (Dev Patel) and each embarks on their own exploration of the city.
Starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith, Ronald Pickup and Celia Imrie, yes, predictable clichés abound, but this is still the very epitome of a feel good film.
In The Grand Budapest Hotel (Saturday 9.45pm TG4) a lobby boy, Zero (Tony Revolori) in a 1930’s hotel is drawn into the misadventures of the establishment’s dashing concierge, M Gustave (Ralph Fiennes showing an unexpected flair for comedy).
When Gustave is left a priceless painting, the family accuse him of murdering the owner.
Using an absolutely stellar cast including Adrien Brody, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Saoirse Ronan, Lea Sedoux, Willem Defoe, Tilda Swinton, F. Murray Abraham and Tom Wilkinson (again!), this is a comic master class directed by the supreme talent that is Wes Anderson.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is probably Anderson’s best film, with a unique approach to storytelling and a glorious visual experience. Enjoy!
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