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Guard, The (15)

Comedy, Thriller

An unorthodox Irish policeman with a confrontational personality is teamed up with an uptight FBI agent to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring.


The critical consensus

Patrolling the dark/light divide so confidently even the IRA nab legitimate laughs, The Guard is a cracker of a film and Sergeant Gerry Boyle a comedy creation for the ages.

****(*)Matt Glasby, Total Film, 10/08/2011

Among the most purely entertaining films of the year, which cuts its laughter with a dose of Celtic melancholy. It still delivers cop/action requirements — shoot-outs, revenges, daring deeds — and chances are, we’ll be quoting lines from this forever.

*****Kim Newman, Empire Online, 15/08/2011

A little rough around the edges, The Guard is intelligent and knowingly funny, and despite continually breaking the fourth wall, it’s very easy to find yourself embroiled in this strange affair.

****(*)David McGinty, The Skinny, 15/08/2011

[Brendan Gleeson's] rapport with a visiting FBI agent (Don Cheadle, thoroughly welcome) is a consistent delight, unlike the rather sleepy plot, which falls short of In Bruges in tension, weirdness or originality.

***(*)(*)Tim Robey, The Telegraph, 18/08/2011

The funniest action comedy for a long time.

****(*)Zara Miller, Little White Lies, 18/08/2011

Laughs dry up in uneven Irish comedy

Paul Greenwood, Evening Times, 18/08/2011

Some of the comedy is mistimed, and there's a little too much thrown in, but Gleeson's amiably contrarian lead is the type of cop you'd happily watch on TV every week. He could certainly teach Lewis a thing or two.

****(*)Steve Rose, The Guardian, 18/08/2011

Having already taken millions in Ireland, it deserves to do the same over here.

****(*)Daily Record, 19/08/2011

The Guard, like it's unconventional hero, is a true original.

****(*)Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express, 19/08/2011

Scene after scene of faux drama ends with glib punchlines designed to raise an outraged laugh, none of which are deserved.

**(*)(*)(*)Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 20/08/2011

Great fun when taken in the right spirit, which would be Old Paddy with a Guinness chaser.

Philip French, The Observer, 21/08/2011

The Guard doesn't always earn the brilliance of its finest verbal flourishes, but it boasts a central character and matching performance that are worth their weight – and may show staying power too.

Jonathan Romney, The Independent, 21/08/2011


Features about Guard, The (15)

Guard, The (15)

Where and when?

General release. Check local listings for show times.

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