The Holy Fail
Home About Cast/Crew Photos Reviews Soundtrack Contact

Instagram
 

Old Habits Die Hard — Owen Dara’s THE HOLY FAIL

There’s something about the deadpan humor of the Irish that always seems to work—and Owen Dara’s THE HOLY FAIL is no exception. Set in Dara’s hometown of Cork, Ireland, the story centers around a newlywed couple already headed for divorce. Dara, the multi-hat-wearing writer, director, producer, and songwriter of the film, also stars in the lead role as the obsessively clean and boringly predictable, Brendan.

!As a last ditch attempt at saving his marriage, Brendan adds a little salt to his bland personality by telling his adventurous American wife, Nicole (Jessica Lancaster), that he’s planning to rob a safe— a hackneyed plan dreamt up by Brendan’s best friend, the determined and daft, Colm (Stiofán Wyley). This being a comedy, of course nothing could be further from the truth. Soon Brendan’s little green lie entangles him in a web of untruths (and his re- aroused new bride’s legs). As Brendan struggles with either sticking to his morals or standing by his heart, the dominos begin to fall every which way, leading Brendan and his troupe of robbers-to-be toward apocalyptically epic failure.

Dara’s prowess as a longtime standup comic expertly manifests as he, quite impressively, sets up and pays off every nook and cranny of the story. And nowhere is this more evident than in the storyline of the two bumbling, prankster police guards, Garda Jim and Garda Kieran (Kevin McCormack and Frank Prendergast). Just when you think the twists and turns can’t get any more ridiculous, they do. Thanks to Dara’s meticulous writing skills, running gags land precisely and perfectly — and are face-palmingly funny to boot.

The biggest punny of all is where THE HOLY FAIL gets its moniker. Dara’s most daring of robbery complications takes place within the sanctity of a Catholic nunnery, led by the no-nonsense head nun, Sister Assumpta, played by Mairin Prendergast— an actress not only a pleasure to watch in a role as a Mother Superior, but also as an actual mother to Garda Kieran’s Frank Prendergast.

Utilizing Cork’s finest scenery, some of its best actors, and one local Corker cast straight from his barstool, THE HOLY FAIL is an accomplishment that should make Dara and his team quite proud. There are moments that leave the audience laughing well after a punchline lands (a difficult feat even many above-the-line comics struggle with), and the well-crafted scuffle of oh- Brendan-boy’s ethics versus his vows is truly a delight to watch.

Perhaps the most appetizing aspect of THE HOLY FAIL lies in its ability to never feel like a joke (or the film) runs too long. Running at a comedy clip of 85 minutes, THE HOLY FAIL has the luck of the Irish behind it—and hopefully pots of distribution gold lie in its future ahead.

NATASHA LEWIN--BEYOND THE MARQUEE


Hilarious Irish Heist: "The Holy Fail"

What happens when four friends rob a bank to save a marriage? A heckuva lot of fun, that’s what!

Owen Dara has written, produced, directed and acted in this comedy, The Holy Fail. As if that weren’t enough, he also composed and performed the songs.

The film takes place in Owen’s homeland of Ireland. Brandon (Owen) and Nicole (Jessica Lancaster) are having a crisis in their marriage. Nicole is bored and wants to go home to America. In order to spice things up, Brandon agrees to rob a safe with his friend, Colm. This excites Nicole, who wants to be part of the scheme. A fourth fellow, Shane, stumbles in on the plot, so off they go.

The characters in this film are priceless. A busybody clerk where Brandon attempts to buy pantyhose to disguise the robbers (but picks up two different sizes) accuses him of having an affair. Two policemen (called Garda) who have little to do in this sleepy town but prank each other, and later Brendan, are hilarious.

In one scene, Brendan has a chat with God, and apologizes for not keeping in touch, but then says “It’s your fault, you know, you’re rather aloof.” When the money from the safe gets into the hands of the nuns at a failing Catholic school, Brandon and Colm dress up in stolen police uniforms to try to get it back. Big mistake. The four conspirators feel the wrath of an Irish nun.

The film is a hoot.


LAURA VOETH--THE TOLUCAN TIMES



Owen Dara's "The Holy Fail" is the latest in a long tradition of hilarious, thought provoking and thoughtful Gaelic comedies, reminiscent of previous entries in this category: "Finding Ned Devine", "Coming up Roses" and "The Full Monty", Dara takes us on a comedic excursion that follows the least traveled logical road into the illogical world of the Irish comic mind. With his lovely partner, Jessica Lancaster, Dara has created an opus well worth the accolades of international cinematic award givers. We watch as this lovely, hard working couple try to bring back the lost romance of their marriage by embarking on an adventure that includes multiple attempts at duping the Irish Garda and the outright theft of an illicit stash of old Irish Pounds and the newer Euro. The delightfully flawed logic of this scheme is that they aren't caught by the long arm of the awful law, but by a group of nuns! At the end, all is well, the marriage is saved, and we return to reality thankful that creative, Irish comedy is a part of our universe!

MCCOLLEY

Fixter Audience Reviews

4 of 5 stars
  • This movie made me laugh a lot. The relationships reminded me of real life doubts, insecurities and adaptations to fit what you think someone else wants. Also, I loved the soundtrack. The voices on the soundtrack were not auto tuned and reminded me of being at a folk concert. Overall, I liked the movie because there are no pretenses.
5 of 5 stars
  • A wonderful independent Irish comedy film, full of heart and charm. It's one of those films that leaves you with a smile.. I love the characters, to the writing, music and cinematography.
4.5 of 5 stars
  • When the initial excitement of marriage wears off what can one do to reinvigorate it? Why not plan a robbery? Thats what newlyweds Nicole and Brendan decide to do. What could possibly go wrong? This is a fine independent film that is even better the second time you watch it!
5 of 5 stars
  • Everything about this film is brilliant. It's a feel good comedy with excellently scenes and characters. Shit tone of laughs the whole way through.
5 of 5 stars
  • What a delightful comedy! Loved the nuns.
4 of 5 stars
  • I saw this jewel of a film at the Austin Revolution Film Festival last fall and really enjoyed it. Confidently directed by lead actor Owen Dara, the film is filled with great comedic acting and plenty of good ol' self deprecating Irish humor. Definitely a laugh out loud comedy with heart. Well worth the watch!
5 of 5 stars
5 of 5 stars
  • This film is one of those gems you had no idea it was going to be that good! Its full of heart and the comedy is a joy. I was chuckling the whole movie! The characters are so well defined that the way they interact and certain things they do lead to some real belly laughs! Loved this movie, cant wait to see whats next from the filmmakers!
5 of 5 stars
  • Adorable comedy you must see!
5 of 5 stars
  • The Holy Fail was a delightful comedy and had me laughing throughout the entire movie. I truly enjoyed the different characters in this movie and they were quite believable. I highly suggest you watch this movie, you'll leave feeling much better!
5 of 5 stars
  • I happened upon this movie through a friend of a friend. Part of my family is Irish and this film hit home for me. I laughed hysterically and the music stuck in my head. I'm a sucker for a good caper movie though. :)
5 of 5 stars
  • This film is a wonderful blend of humor, drama, and old fashioned comedy where several stories intertwine to a surprising and satisfying conclusion. Loved it!
5 of 5 stars
  • 5 star film!! wonderfully acted and so much fun!! a must see!!
5 of 5 stars
  • I really enjoyed The Holy Fail. It's a fun little film with lots of heart and humor. It goes to show you that you don't need a massive budget or special effects to hod the attention of an audience. You just need a good story that entertains and uplifts the human spirit. Bravo!
4.5 of 5 stars
  • This was a great comedy and I would suggest you get out and see this movie..
5 of 5 stars
  • What a heart-warming and hilarious movie. I laughed out loud the whole way through, related to all the marital problems, and appreciated how real and genuine the entire film felt. Films like this one truly capture the essence of independent film, showcasing the talents of artists putting their heart and soul into something but also doing it extraordinarily well.
4 of 5 stars
  • The Holy Fail was charming and funny and just an enjoyable movie. So many laugh-out-loud moments. I've watched it twice and could watch it again.
4 of 5 stars
Really a joy! It is a tremendous amount of fun! Great Irish comedy, terrific acting, and beautiful scenery.