Finally got to see Parked last weekend and must admit I was feeling slightly 'meh' about it for the first 20 minutes. It seemed to be heading dangerously one-way down cliche cul-de-sac but thank goodness it managed to find a way out.
It's basically about two men who have ended up living in their cars and form an unlikely friendship. Ok I can feel some of you cringing. There is a little bit more to it than that.
Colm Meaney plays Fred who has returned to Ireland after drifting from job to job in England. He is stuck in a housing catch 22. He can't go on the waiting list for social housing unless he has a permanent abode and he can't get a permanent abode until he gets social housing.
Little Colin Morgan plays Cathal (Cal) who's left or been chucked out of his father's house after his mother died. He's a heroine addict who owes money to his dealer.
Cal, is an experienced car-dweller and sort of takes Fred under his wing, showing where he can shower and helping him with the welfare department. Fred meanwhile becomes a protective friend, a genuine friend among Cal's associates of smack-heads and dealers.
There is a little romance thrown in as Fred catches the eye of a woman he meets at the swimming baths and Cal helps engineer a meeting.
Meaney and Morgan both put in great, contrasting performances the former understated and the latter all twitches and ticks. It's great to see Colin stretching his acting muscles outside Merlin.
Parked is a nice film delicately balancing the twee with some of the more brutal reality of drugs and homelessness which saves the day. It doesn't go down the cul de sac which is also a saving grace. It's not going to win any awards from me but is a nicely moving film.
I'm going to give it 70% on IMDB it has 67% from users and on Rotten Tomatoes is has got an audience rating of 88%. No critics consensus yet.
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