Irish Romantic Comedy Standby is Released in Irish Cinemas from Today
New Irish romantic comedy Standby is released in Irish cinemas from today (14/11/14).
The film, directed by Ronan and Rob Burke, recently had its Irish premiere at the Cork Film Festival and stars Jessica Paré (Mad Men) and Brian Gleeson (The Stag). Alan (Gleeson) works at the tourism desk in Dublin Airport. Alice (Paré) is an American on standby. Eight years ago, Alan and Alice had a romance that ended badly. Now, every hotel room in Dublin is booked and despite initial frostiness, they decide to spend the evening getting to know each other again. Both will tell lies about how well the last eight years have gone, but as the night goes on they gradually come to realize that perhaps they are more compatible than ever before.
Standby has attracted strong reviews. Gavin Burke, writing for Entertainment.ie, awarded the film four stars, hailing it as “an assured debut from director brothers Rob and Ronan Burke” and praised the film as a “thoroughly likeable romantic comedy.” Today FM also awarded the film four stars, describing it as “a sweet, smart, and funny love story wonderfully told through a love-letter to Dublin.” In a four-star review in Total Film magazine, Philip Kemp described it as “a gentle, funny rom-com.”
Written by Pierce Ryan, the Irish producer on Standby is John Wallace for Black Sheep Productions, in addition to Luxembourg company Paul Thiltges Distributions. Standby was financed by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board and the Luxembourg Film Fund.