It’s not all doom and gloom in movies; sometimes things are just nice. Take The Spin, for example, this is just a nice movie; nice and very funny. We had the trailer for it recently, and I was a screener.
The Spin stars Owen Colgan, Brenock O’Connor, Tara Lynne O’Neill, Maura Higgins, Kimberly Wyatt, Cian Newell and Joe Savino. Michael Head directs, with Colin Broderick and Mark McCausland penning the script.
The Story
The Spin is a good old-fashioned road movie:
Two music-loving but unlikely friends have two days to travel the length of Ireland to save their record store from closure. For one of them, not having a car is just one of the problems.
We meet Dermot (O’Connor) and Elvis (Colgan), who own a record shop. Well, most of the locals don’t know it’s a record shop, usually asking for things like key cutting. The record shop isn’t doing well; in fact, they are about to be evicted.
Dermot finds a collection of records that are worth a mint; sadly, they are in Cork, the other end of Ireland. So, a road trip is in order to get the records, sell them and save the shop. What could possibly go wrong?
I won’t spoil the story, but a series of misadventures ensue and wonderful characters follow.
The Cast
I can’t say too much about the cast of The Spin, as I’m not familiar with them; this is a good thing, though. There’s no pre-judgement, I just build the characters. The great thing is that Dermot and Elvis are great.
The script has them bantering with each other, telling tall tales, and they are basically two friend who love music. We’ve all had friends like these; you love them, you hate them, but they will always be friends.
The other thing about the script is how wonderfully simple it is, but also very funny. The banter between the two of them is very, very funny in places, and you can’t help but like them. I really found myself laughing with them at the silliest jokes.
The rest of the cast are just as good, including the fella with the stuffed fox and the stripper.
Overall
Without spoiling anything, I can’t break down The Spin much more. Overall, I found it a very watchable movie; it made me laugh; it made me cry. It is a very well-scripted movie, with a wonderfully natural cast, all of whom are having fun with it.
I thought the comeuppance of the antagonist was a little harsh, but thinking about it, it’s what they deserved. There is a nice message in the movie: Kindness begets kindness (or something close to that). This was nice, and it pays off in the movie.
The Spin isn’t a perfect movie; for example, the casting of Dermot’s girlfriend was a joke; there’s no way he could pull a bird like that. Also, there isn’t much music in it for a movie about two guys who own a record shop. This was a shame, as there are a couple of original songs, and they are fantastic.
It’s nice how Dermot and Elvis are nice guys, right up to the last. Sure, they have their issues, but they are likeable characters. Something that is sorely missing in a lot of movies and TV these days. I never found myself warming to Stack and Smoke in Sinners. I would love to have a couple of pints with Dermot and Elvis, though.
The Spin is a good old-fashioned feel-good movie, with laughs, a solid story, and engaging characters. As Is aid, it makes a change from the usual Hollywood movie; there’s no doom or gloom, just the tiny roads of Ireland, with two good friends.
I’m giving The Spin 4.5 out of 5, as I genuinely enjoyed it and I would happily watch it again.
The Spin will be in UK cinemas on the 27th of February.
