Nuns on the Run (1990)

good back-story, and good acting

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I recently came across a review of this film on another website in which the author responsible for it made unfavourable comparisons between this and Whoopi Goldberg's awful 'Sister Act'. The reviewer, who shall remain nameless, claimed that 'Nuns On The Run' lacked the strong spiritual message as seen in 'Sister Act'. I wanted to thump the idiot. 'Nuns On The Run' was never intended to contain any sort of spiritual message at all and I'm sure its creator Jonathan Lynn would be the first to admit that. All it ever set out to do was make people laugh, and that's exactly what it did.Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane play Brian Hope and Charlie McManus, two small-time crooks who have grown disillusioned with their life of crime since their firm was taken over by the brash Mr. Casey. One day, after stealing one million pounds from their boss, who stole it from the ruthless Triad gang, the pair plan to escape to Brazil to start a new life. Unfortunately, their getaway ends in disaster when their car breaks down ( Charlie had forgotten to fill the tank with petrol ) and the pair are forced to seek refuge in a nearby building which, to their horror, turns out to be a convent. Angered by their betrayal, Casey orders for Brian and Charlie to be killed. So, in order to elude not only Casey and the Triads but the police as well, Charlie and Brian disguise themselves as nuns and introduce themselves as sisters Inviolata and Euphemia to Sister Liz, the sister superior of the nunnery.Unfortunately, while Brian and Charlie's own safety is at risk, Brian's short-sighted girlfriend Faith ends up being hospitalised after receiving a bullet wound from Casey's henchmen Abbot and Morley. With Brian and Charlie now very much wanted men, how long will it be before their facade crumbles? With a top production team and the pairing of a former 'Monty Python' star with a cast member of 'The Comic Strip Presents', 'Nuns On The Run' ought to be funny, and is. Both Coltrane and Idle had worked together in the late '80's in 'National Lampoon's European Vacation' so it seemed only natural to combine their talents here. Janet Suzman is excellent as the kindly sister superior while gorgeous Camille Coduri does not receive anywhere near as much credit as she deserves as the dippy Faith. The scene in which she pours her heart out to a priest in a confession booth ( which is Brian yet again in disguise ) is rather moving, if absurd. Lila Kaye, Winston Dennis, Robert Morgan, Robert Patterson and Doris Hare all contribute fine performances too as the supporting cast.The Catholic church unsurprisingly came in for a bit of battering but it was no worse than what Dave Allen used to do on his comedy shows in the '70's. There's a priceless scene in which Charlie attempts to explain to Brian the doctrine of the Trinity without actually having a clue what he is talking about. Also hilarious was Charlie teaching the students of the convent how to play basketball, Brian and Charlie attempting to apply make-up for the first time and a high-speed car chase involving Brian, Charlie, Abbot, Morley and Sister Liz. The soundtrack is something else too ( the late George Harrison's underrated 'Blow Away' springs to mind ).Robbie Coltrane stayed within the religious theme for his next movie - Peter Richardson's excellent 'The Pope Must Die' while Eric Idle's next big film role was as Paul 'Dibbs' Plutzker in 'Casper'. Camille Coduri later went on to work with John Goodman in the excellent comedy 'King Ralph'. Sadly, this was to be one of the last acting roles of actress Doris Hare. Frail though she was at the time of filming, she was still able to steal what scenes she appeared in.Both Coltrane and Idle may have went on to do other things but this, for me, was them at their best.Funniest moment - Brian and Charlie escaping from Faith's flat by clambering down a drainpipe, only for the pipe to dislodge itself from the building!Second funniest moment - At the hospital, Charlie displays to one of the Triads ( who is posing as a hospital janitor ) the use for a bedpan. ''This is what we use for getting rid of s**t!'' says Charlie, before bouncing it off the man's skull.

This movie did have some proper comics doing the leads- Idle and Coltrane, and some of the other main characters did a good job in their roles. Faith and the two Sister Marys were great, as was the mature presence and good acting of Mother SuperiorDidn't like the casting of the two gangsters boss (Mr Casey)though- he was too young, softly spoken, and without the real look of a hard crime boss.The story took some time to get going, but ultimately had its moments. Some excellent and well delivered lines.Most of the comedy worked well, though I didn't appreciate Faith's near blind state without glasses.The version I saw was only on DVD made 4x3 for some reason, so it looked more like a TV movie.It's a low budget British comedy. Shame there was no sequel.

Handmade films started off by making the phenomenal Monty Python's Life of Brian, made several fantastic films to follow that, and just 11 years later wound down their production with this hidden gem. Nuns on the Run is a truly British comedy. No other country in the world can do comedy as well as the British, and this movie represents when they got just about everything right. Perfect casting, fantastic scenario and some hilarious one-liners. This was really one of the last great films comedies, with only Fierce Creatures and Chicken Run coming close since. Unfairly maligned, I seldom hear a good word said about it in the film community, yet nobody I know possibly has any criticism of it. It will continue to be a personal favourite of mine, and I'd hope that other people will in time realise just what they've been missing. 9/10.

I agree this movie is hilarious but I can't prove it by any particular scene. English humor, especially Monty Python is generally too silly for my American tastes, but Robbie Coltrane and Eric Idle together are as good as Laurel and Hardy. They have the chemistry that make any unusual situation a real hoot. An odd couple in a strange situation isn't always enough, i.e. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in Twins (1988). It takes a natural timing that Eric and Robbie have developed over many years in the comedy business. Once you let yourself start laughing with this film, its hard to stop. Its a great video selection you can enjoy again and again. Watch for the subtle stuff, or just play it in the background for an occasional chuckle when family arrives for the holidays. I'd rate it an 8 at least.