52 people live in Tulaigh Morh and a good percentage of them play the national lottery. Even for the simple, Irish folk, a lottery winning could bring their every fantasy true... And someone in the village has won.

Jackie O'Shea and Michael O'Sullivan are well aware that if someone were to win, they wouldn't just announce it to everyone, but also know that someone among their closest friends is a winner. Through a series of subtle parties, beer buying, and talking around, the two old men attempt to find the winner and fall into their good grace, all the while not trusting each other in case one of them were to have it.

It turns out that the winner is old Ned Devine, who just happened to have a heart attack when he found out he won. Still holding the winning ticket, he is the only one to claim the ticket, since his name is written on it. Jackie and Michael decide that Ned would have wanted them to take, and share, the ticket, so they do just that.

Unfortunately, a representative of the lottery comes out to Tulaigh Morh to claim the ticket and meet Ned Devine. In a desperate act of greed, Michael poses as Ned, and all hell breaks loose. Now, realizing that the whole village will become involved, agree to split the ticket equally among everyone. Everyone does, except for the one woman who has realized that she could earn more by reporting the fraud to the authorities than agreeing to go along with their plans.

MOVIE REVIEW

Every once in a while, a movie comes along so funny, so full of wit and humor, and so creatively done that it tops all other movies. If you've read some of my other reviews, you're probably expecting me to say 'But this isn't one of them.' But it is. Waking Ned Devine is one of the most brilliant comedies I've ever seen. It is superior to any American comedy, especially those of today where all they seem to be based on is loud-mouthed comedians-made-actors. There are fewer and fewer really good comedies out there, where the mix of drama and comedy is just right, and the movie is well-made.
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