DAVE ALLEN AT PEACE

Director:  Andy De Emmony

Year of Release:  2018

For those who don’t know Dave Allen was an Irish comedian who had shows both on television and in theatres, the most famous of which was ‘Dave Allen at Large’ which ran from 1971 to 1979. That show was a combination of monologues and sketches, during which he tackled taboo subjects, often taking aim at the Catholic church.

This BBC film is a factional take on parts of his life, which are interwoven with re-enactments of some of his TV sketches, making things a little disjoined at times. We begin by looking at Dave Allen’s childhood and younger years when Dave is played by two separate actors, the latter being Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, who also appears with Aidan in ‘Sing Street’. Aidan plays Dave Allen in later years, once he begins to find fame on stage and screen, he does bare a passing resemblance to the comedian and he is great at delivering his monologues, sat in a chair, whiskey in hand.

On the whole, this is a light-hearted film, and in a rare leading role Aidan carries the whole thing with ease, showing his flair for comedy, we haven’t really seen since Treacle Jnr.  It is easy to see what attracted Aidan to the role, not only the opportunity to play an Irish comedy icon but also to play a character that you can warm to rather than one you ‘love to hate’. Aidan brings all the charm and charisma you would expect to the role and carries the film with ease.

There is some melancholy in the film, which is actually to its advantage, adding an extra dimension to the story. The most moving scene is between Dave Allen and his brother, John, played by Aidan’s fellow Game of Thrones actor Conleth Hill. On my second watch, I found myself comparing the gentle banter here to the ‘frostier’ encounters between Lords Bealish and Varys.  It is obvious the two actors have developed a rapport which adds to the emotional punch of the scene.  A joy for Game of Thrones fans.

Even for a TV film this is a little short, with a running time of just under an hour.  For a story that starts in the 1940s and ends in the 2000s (Dave Allen passed away in 2005) this isn’t long enough to cover, even the snippets of his life portrayed here. Especially when you factor in the sketches that are peppered throughout, I think it would have benefited from a longer running time and a little more structure.  If you come to it knowing little or nothing of Dave Allen’s career or reputation then you only get a vague idea of what he achieved, and in that sense, it is a wasted opportunity.

I wouldn’t say this was in my top 10 of Aidan projects, but it is an interesting watch, with Aidan in a rare leading role, playing a part full of warmth and humour.