The Honeymooners

(Herald rating * * *)

This sweet and light-hearted romantic comedy, a feature debut shot on digital video in 18 days for a budget of barely $100,000, starts well and stumbles only slightly in the middle. And if it follows a predictable arc, it is kept aloft by a brace of generous performances from its title characters who - whatever the Just Married lettering on their shared car may suggest - are not honeymooners.

David (Byrne), a Dubliner whose bride (Mitchell) gets cold feet on the way to the church, wants to escape to the seaside cottage in Donegal where he had been planning to honeymoon. But having drowned his sorrows, he's well over the limit so he persuades Claire (Reid) to drive him. She has problems of her own, though: on her birthday she has dumped her inconstant married lover and been sacked from her waitressing job. There are no prizes for guessing how this odd couple will end up but Golden offers plenty of entertainment en route.

His script's first half-hour is economical and fast-paced with snappy lines. When it sags at mid-point he sets matters alight again.

There are a few implausibilities and continuity lapses, most of them to do with the absence or presence of luggage, wallets and handbags and some of the subplot material is a bit forced, but the main couple - who bear an uncanny resemblance to Karen and Steve from Coronation Street - manage very charming turns with just enough chemistry to persuade.

The music (by Niall Byrne and Ulster band Ash) is a treat and the handheld camerawork makes the best of the pretty setting. An unchallenging but pleasant feelgood film.

CAST: Jonathan Byrne, Alex Reid, Justine Mitchell, Conor Mullen
DIRECTOR: Karl Golden
RUNNING TIME: 90 mins
RATING: M, low-level offensive language
SCREENING: Rialto, Hoyts Wairau Park from Thursday