Gold

Movie Review (published by Geek Ireland, October 13th)

**
Gold is an Irish comedy, at least that’s what I was made to believe. There is just a small issue with that statement, I did not laugh once. Gold starts with a reasonably comical scene, a rebel teenaged Abbie (Maisie Williams) looking for ‘food supplements’ to improve her performance in cross country running. Abbie, accompanied by her terrified friend Devon (Patrick Gibson), meeting the drug dealer at a gym is a good opening.

Ray (David Wilmot) is in his forties, when he decides to go back to his hometown to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend Alice (Kerry Condon) and daughter Abbie. Alice asked him to leave, so she could raise their child with the PE teacher, Frank (James Nesbitt). Ray, who is been absent for ten years, causes a disruption, in their quiet and structured life.

The pace in Gold is lacking, the first few scenes and the introduction of Ray’s character into the family home does not get the story going anywhere. It’s not until a family day trip and the extraordinary event that takes place there that the story moves forward. The script fails to explore why the family is dysfunctional, or if it is at all. It does not go into a deep understanding about why Alice took the decision of raising Abbie away from Ray.  

Ray’s relationship with Abbie has a more natural progression. Abbie does not trust her biological dad; she thinks he’s homeless, but due to some special circumstances she feels pity for him. The compassion she shows for Ray a bit easier to understand, but still quite forced. Abbie manipulates him, but doesn’t feel any respect for him, which it’s a natural development for a relationship that has been shovelled into her life at an awkward time.

David Wilmot does have some decent lines like “You want a hug or something?” Though, It's hard to believe he is charming enough to shake the foundations of a relationship within a few days of showing up. Ray is insecure, seems to be on the verge of crying most of the time, and is homeless. This may be a very snobbish statement, but how is he able to shake anything with that description?

James Nesbitt in the role of Frank is the comic relief in the story. His high performance coach video is the cause of a couple of smiles, a sketch that unfortunately gets overused and old by half way through the film.  

Heery’s second film – after Small Engine Repair in 2006- has a predictable ending, and that’s no crime if your movie moves the audience. The problem with Gold is that fails to be a comedy and fails to be a drama too.