Brian Hope and Charlie McManus are a couple of London gangsters who have grown jaded with the business, especially as they dislike their new boss, the brash Casey. When he learns of their plans to leave, Casey sets out to have them killed after they have robbed a local gang of Triads. Brian and Charlie steal the ill-gotten gains for themselves and attempt to flee to Brazil. However, things don't quite go according to plan and they find themselves hiding out in a nuns' training school. Disguising themselves as nuns, they have to maintain a low profile as they attempt to avoid their former boss, the Triads, and the Police. Amid all this Brian meets and falls in love with waitress Faith which just adds to the hapless pair's problems.
Produced by former Beatle George Harrison's Handmade Films, Nuns on the Run was something of a British spin on Billy Wilder's classic 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot. However, while Wilder's movie revolved around a couple of musicians being forced to dress in drag as a means to hide from the mob, writer/director Jonathan Lynn flips the concept around so that in this case its two anti-heroes are themselves the crooks. It is not the most original or novel of premises, although it benefits from the chemistry of its two leads. Both Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane make for a likable and charming double act, with a strong chemistry between the pair of them. Lynn as well, who was no stranger to crime comedies having directed 1985's Clue which was based on the well-known murder mystery Boardgame, and who would go on to helm 1992's My Cousin Vinny, manages to maintain an even pace.
The premise of both men having to hide out in a nuns' training school would seem to be ripe for some inspired comedy, and indeed it is not without its share of amusing moments and scenarios. Although Lynn fails to never really utilize it's full comedy potential. There are slight moments of observational humor, with Lynn taking wry satirical digs at the Catholic Church. Most notably when Charlie who was raised a Catholic attempts to explain the concept of the holy trinity to an incredulous Brian. Idle, who himself has not been afraid to dabble in religious satire having co-written and starred in the ingenious Life of Brian is an ideal casting choice as the skeptical Brian Hope. While Coltrane is a more than worthy foil to him as his sharp-witted partner in crime.
There are solid turns from a capable supporting cast which includes Camile Coduri, who would go on to be best known for her role as Jackie Tyler in the BBC's revival of the classic Sci-Fi series Doctor Who, giving a vulnerable performance as the sweet-natured faith, and who acts as the movies obligatory love interest. A sub-plot which suffice to say feels more than a little contrived. Although to their merit Idle and Coduri's scenes together are at times rather affecting. Janet Suzman makes for a rather strong presence as the Mother Superior who runs the school, while Robert Patterson is appropriately menacing as the sinister crime boss Casey. With Doris Hare in eccentric form as the doddery old lush Sister Mary.
When all is said and done, Nuns on the Run is fanciful fare that beyond its less-than-original plot, manages to coast off of the charisma and likeability of both Idle and Coltrane. In the hands of less capable actors, it might not have come off quite as well as it does, and it's thanks to quickfire interplay between them that it does It never won any awards upon its release although it managed to be something of a moderate commercial success at the box office. It makes for an undemanding, diverting piece of fluff despite its less-than-novel premise.
Produced by former Beatle George Harrison's Handmade Films, Nuns on the Run was something of a British spin on Billy Wilder's classic 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot. However, while Wilder's movie revolved around a couple of musicians being forced to dress in drag as a means to hide from the mob, writer/director Jonathan Lynn flips the concept around so that in this case its two anti-heroes are themselves the crooks. It is not the most original or novel of premises, although it benefits from the chemistry of its two leads. Both Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane make for a likable and charming double act, with a strong chemistry between the pair of them. Lynn as well, who was no stranger to crime comedies having directed 1985's Clue which was based on the well-known murder mystery Boardgame, and who would go on to helm 1992's My Cousin Vinny, manages to maintain an even pace.
The premise of both men having to hide out in a nuns' training school would seem to be ripe for some inspired comedy, and indeed it is not without its share of amusing moments and scenarios. Although Lynn fails to never really utilize it's full comedy potential. There are slight moments of observational humor, with Lynn taking wry satirical digs at the Catholic Church. Most notably when Charlie who was raised a Catholic attempts to explain the concept of the holy trinity to an incredulous Brian. Idle, who himself has not been afraid to dabble in religious satire having co-written and starred in the ingenious Life of Brian is an ideal casting choice as the skeptical Brian Hope. While Coltrane is a more than worthy foil to him as his sharp-witted partner in crime.
There are solid turns from a capable supporting cast which includes Camile Coduri, who would go on to be best known for her role as Jackie Tyler in the BBC's revival of the classic Sci-Fi series Doctor Who, giving a vulnerable performance as the sweet-natured faith, and who acts as the movies obligatory love interest. A sub-plot which suffice to say feels more than a little contrived. Although to their merit Idle and Coduri's scenes together are at times rather affecting. Janet Suzman makes for a rather strong presence as the Mother Superior who runs the school, while Robert Patterson is appropriately menacing as the sinister crime boss Casey. With Doris Hare in eccentric form as the doddery old lush Sister Mary.
When all is said and done, Nuns on the Run is fanciful fare that beyond its less-than-original plot, manages to coast off of the charisma and likeability of both Idle and Coltrane. In the hands of less capable actors, it might not have come off quite as well as it does, and it's thanks to quickfire interplay between them that it does It never won any awards upon its release although it managed to be something of a moderate commercial success at the box office. It makes for an undemanding, diverting piece of fluff despite its less-than-novel premise.