MAN ABOUT DOG

Year: 2004
UK: Redbus Film Distribution
Cast: Allen Leech, Ciaran Nolan, Tom Murphy, Sean McGinley, Pat Shortt, Fionnula Flanagan, Selva Rasalingam, Billy Roche
Director: Paddy Breathnach
Country: Ireland
UK: 88 mins
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and moderate sex
UK Release Date: 19 November 2004

Synopsis

MAN ABOUT DOG, the No.1 Smash Hit in Eire, tells the hilarious story of three luckless losers from Belfast who have a week to pay back £50,000 to the local bookmaker. They see their chance when they "inherit" a greyhound from one of their scams, but the dog doesn't seem that keen on running in a straight line. To cut their losses the boys sell the mutt to some travellers. But too late they realise that the dog is a natural hare courser (i.e. it will chase a live hare but not the fake bunnies used by official dog tracks).

With a dog like that you could make a lot of money - enough to pay off the bookie. In fact, enough to beat the bookie. So the three lads, as every right thinking person would do, steal the hound back from the gypsies and head to the biggest hare-coursing event in Ireland. Unfortunately, so do the bookie and the dog-less gypsies, as well as everyone else they've managed to piss off on the way.

The lads bet all their money on their dog... with the bookie that they're in debt to! The greyhound wins, but will our heroes beat the bookie?

"Off to see a man about a dog" is a common Irish phrase that covers a wealth of excuses for a wee journey; whether it be down the pub, off to the dogs or for a romantic interlude. MAN ABOUT DOG may be the shaggiest of shaggy dog stories - but it's a hell of a tail!

Directed by Paddy Breathnach with screenplay by Pearse Elliott it stars Allen Leech, Tom Jordan Murphy and Ciaran Nolan.