Brian and Charlie work for a gangster. When the boss learns they want to "leave" he sets them up to be killed, after they help rob the local Triads of their drug dealing profits. B&C decide to steal the money for them... more »selves, but when their escape doesn't go to plan, they have to seek refuge in a Nuns' teacher training school. Disguised as nuns, B & C have to avoid their boss, Triads, police and Brians's girlfriend. There's also the problem of them being men disguised as nuns in an all women institution.« less
"A very enjoyable movie - not exactly high brow humor, or not typical off beat Pythonesque humor (Eric Idle of Monty Python fame is Brian, and Robbie Coltrane of the Cracker series is Charlie). Brian and Charlie are gangsters who after stealing some drug money from the London triad, and avoiding a double cross from their boss, take 'sanctuary' in a convent. They do this by hiding as drag-Nuns; Sister Euphemia and Sister Inviolata (to see Robbie Coltrane in a nun's habit is a howl).
Brian and Charlie manage to have a positive effect on the nunnery, and they even repent (of a sorts) - but without returning the money of course (The good guys win - according to Brian's logic - when drug money is used for good works!).
There is some light hearted making fun of Catholicism here, but it is not mean spirited, so it shouldn't offend anyone. Charlie - who grew up Catholic - defends the church a few times while discussing religion with Brian.
Break out the popcorn, and fire up the movie and enjoy!"
FUNNY, UGLY NUNS
Robin Simmons | Palm Springs area, CA United States | 04/22/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If the last Pope was John Paul. Why isn't the new one George Ringo?
Irreverent Catholic humour abounds in NUNS ON THE RUN (Anchor Bay), a low brow romp that follows Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane -- two crooks with loot taken from bigger crooks -- into a convent where they don habits and pretend to be nuns assigned to teaching young girls.
I laughed out loud at these desperate, inept, ugly nuns and their silly complications."
Finally, a great film comes to DVD
Mazkoor Shariff | Green Bay, WI United States | 09/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"An early film of Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid of Harry Potter fame) is a fantastically humorous film, especially if you are or know something about Catholicism. Robbie's explanation of the Holy Trinity will have you in stitches. And the method he uses to remember the proper way of making the sign of the cross is still the way I remember it. Buy this film!!!"
You have to keep on sinning so you can be saved...
Barbara L. Timmer | Cincinnati, Ohio United States | 03/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The above statement comes from when Charley aka Sister Inviolata of the Immaculate Conception is explaining how that because of the Doctrine of Original Sin you have to keep on sinning so you can be saved and go to heavan. That's why Christianity suits so many people!
And that's just one line from this really funny movie!
The plot of this movie revolves around two extremely inept gangsters who decide to steal a large sum of money off a gang boss and end up dressing up as nuns and hiding out in a convent!
Everybody, especially the two main characters, Brian Hope aka Sister Euphemia of the Five Wounds, Five Wounds for short and Charley MacManus, is quite mad! Needless to say they make some seriously ugly nuns.
Which brings me to a point that I had a few nuns as teachers in grade school and some of them looked a lot like Charley! LOL!
I digress! If you like slapstick British Comedy, you'll like this movie."
Action/adventure/theology/feminism/comedy
Maria Beadnell | NY United States | 12/23/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's hard too find an action movie wherein the female lead is someone I'd want for a friend. And, yes, I know the actor playing Faith was at leat 20 years younger than Eric Idle. But!!! How many action/comedy women get subtext? Faith is working her way through college, by holding 2 jobs, and we get a glimpse of her family life, and, when she is ___justifiably___ angry with her boyfriend (Idle) the movie doesn't dismiss what she has to say. Not for people into total escapism--raises too many points, and by the way it pre-empts "Analyze This" by many years in stating, humorously, that the gangster's life is stressful.
That said, the movie made me laugh--I went to Catholic school; I didn't find it offensive--if you are so devout that you can't question your faith at all, you're not really thinking, and then no, you won't enjoy this movie. (Don't see Life of Brian, either.) "Of COURSE it doesn't make sense--that's why you gotta have faith." That's almost what the nuns told me--except I wasn't allowed to laugh.I'll watch anything Robbie Coltrane is in because he is so good, and Eric Idle's Pythonesque timing is totally on. The writing has good pace, going from believable but funny to silly but fathomable to so silly you just have to suspend your disbelief just at the right moment."