When Brendan Met Trudy

Released Sep 12, 2000

1h 35m

Romance

Comedy

List

60%

63 Reviews

Tomatometer

58%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Brendan (Peter McDonald) is an earnest, introverted schoolteacher who, aside from his participation in the local choir, has only one passion in his life -- the movies. That is until he meets Trudy (Flora Montgomery), a woman who is gregarious and adventurous beyond his imagination. His entire persona changes as he becomes enveloped in her carefree and sometimes dangerous world.

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Critics Consensus

The references to other films are rather overdone, and the direction is uneven.

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Audience Member

When Brendan Met Trudy ,written by Roddy Doyle(The Snapper and The Van),is probably one of Ireland's greatest comedies. I personally absolutely loved this movie. Peter McDonald and Flora Montgomery work brilliantly together. If you ever get the drive or eagerness to watch an Irish Comedy film choose When Brendan Met Trudy. The Film's Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/When-Brendan-Met-Trudy/194976627186434?sk=info

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The title of the movie pretty much says it all......it's a satirical offbeat comedy that uses many quotes and scenes from well known movies and will appeal to any movie/ trivia buff. It's not a perfect comedy by any means but the Irish setting, the writing of Roddy Doyle and the astute casting of Flora Montgomery and Peter McDonald make it worth a look.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

While "The Commitments" was about a poorer, working class, Ireland - never properly touched by the world economy, When Brendan met Trudy is about the Celtic Tiger Dublin. Brash, confident, and ultimately full of shite. Doyle takes a simple romantic comedy and builds in a damning indictment of the Nouveaux Oirish an over-confident new middle class that will be feeling it the most now the good times are over. Fantastic performances from all the actors, especially the bewildered Brendan and his polar opposite, Trudy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

While the adaptation of Doyle's book turns out well, the romantic story of finding each other is nothiing special. The usual quirkiness in the characters is there and provides some lightly humerous moments.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Quite funny and a clever story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

if you are a cinephile maniac you re gonna adore the references...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

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Kieron J. Walsh

Director

Peter McDonald

Brendan

Flora Montgomery

Trudy

Marie Mullen

Mother

Pauline McLynn

Nuala

Don Wycherley

Niall

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Getting all the film references means you have to be a bit of a film buff yourself, but it's not essential to the enjoyment of this lighthearted satire.

Aug 10, 2001

Full Review

Jason Anderson

Globe and Mail

Doyle should have spent more time on the story and less time in the video store searching for inspiration.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 10, 2001

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

The type of film that begs to be called 'charming' and by doing so instead ends up grating.

Rated: 1.5/5

May 14, 2001

Full Review

Jason Gorber

Film Scouts

The whole thing plays out a bit like an episode of Dream On, where film references are used in lieu of original thoughts or dialogue. The impact is, of course, directly correlated to whether or not you get what films are being referenced.

Rated: B-

Jun 21, 2007

Full Review

Vadim Rizov

Movie-Vault.com

Rated: 5/10

Jun 19, 2003

Full Review

Matthew Turner

ViewLondon

Rated: 4/5

Oct 30, 2002

Full Review

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Synopsis

Brendan (Peter McDonald) is an earnest, introverted schoolteacher who, aside from his participation in the local choir, has only one passion in his life -- the movies. That is until he meets Trudy (Flora Montgomery), a woman who is gregarious and adventurous beyond his imagination. His entire persona changes as he becomes enveloped in her carefree and sometimes dangerous world.

Director: Kieron J. Walsh
Screenwriter: Roddy Doyle
Distributor: Shooting Gallery
Production Co: Collins Avenue, Deadly Films 2
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $132.4K
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)