The Stag, film review: Tale of masculinity, trust and friendship delivered in droll fashion

(15) John Butler, 94 mins Starring: Andrew Scott, Hugh O'Conor, Peter McDonald

Geoffrey Macnab
Thursday 13 March 2014 19:30 EDT
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Andrew Scott stars in 'The Stag', Ireland's answer to 'The Hangover'
Andrew Scott stars in 'The Stag', Ireland's answer to 'The Hangover'

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John Butler's comedy follows prissy young Irish man Fionan (Hugh O'Conor) and his friends on a walking trip through the wilds as part of a "stag" weekend.

He is far too refined and "metrosexual" to engage in macho debauchery but his psychopathic brother-in-law to be, "The Machine" (Peter McDonald), is determined to make the weekend as extreme as possible.

The trajectory of the film is predictable (ritual humiliation, nudity) and the ending is horribly maudlin, but Butler makes his points about masculinity, trust and friendship in droll enough fashion.

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