Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose (2023) User Reviews

Great actors performing well in a story that just wont get interesting or funny

[imseeg · 5/10 · 4 September 2023]

This plot sounded really funny: an investigation into a talking animal, which was suppose to be a reincarnation of a deceased loved one.

The bad: the problem is that however amusing this movie starts out to be, this story totally fails to become really funny or interesting. It just stays stuck into one gear of trying to see this animal that can speak and once the moment is finally there, it is one big deception. And then nothing.

I mean what's the point of this movie? It aint funny, merely mildly amusing. And it is quite long in the tooth, even with a runtime of only 90 minutes, I still got bored.

I guess it wants to use this quirky story as a way of posing the question if there is life after death. Well nobody and everybody has an answer to that and this movies plot wasnt the right format to pose that life's question.

Bummer. Great actors, who performed really well, with beautiful photography, but in the end it simply was NOT funny NOR interesting in any way...

one for the connoisseurs

[tjintky · 6/10 · 8 September 2023]

Amazing cast. Beautifully filmed. If I were a film student I would probably rave about the camera work and colour pallette/saturation, etc.

Alas, I am not. I do not, however begrudge any of the 120 minutes or so I spent watching and then going back to rewatch assuming I'd fallen asleep and missed the key plot point or story arc that had earned it such high ratings.

The cast, acting, editing, camera work, costume, and makeup can make up for a lot, but best to go in with low expectations for story and you won't be disappointed. It's a nice little tale, just not an 8. (current rating when I watched.)

Vaguely Andersonesque 1930-based true-tale drama... whose quirky style may disappoint & perplex many

[danieljfarthing · 6/10 · 22 September 2023]

In quirky 1930-based true-tale drama "Nador Fodor And The Talking Mongoose" paranormal expert / sceptic Simon Pegg (as strong as ever) with assistant Minnie Driver is invited by fellow scientist Christopher Lloyd to probe an Isle of Mann community inc Paul Kaye, Tim Downie, Errol Kaye (all good)... AND, they claim, a clairvoyant, philosophical, talking rodent. While clearly fraudulent (or is it?) the case sparks deep questions for Pegg... and for us all (or does it?). Writer / director Adam Sigal's Wes Andersonesque style doesn't follow usual movie conventions, which may make it relatively original, but will nonetheless disappoint (and even perplex) many.

Great cast, weak writing

[lifewerkzoo · 3/10 · 24 September 2023]

I had high hopes for this film. The cast, the acting, filming and all are excellent. Sadly, This story never takes flight. It makes its intended statements; let people believe what they want, and what happens next (after life), but doesn't make them in any interesting way. It falls flat on storytelling craft. There were so many ways to have created intrigue and explore the reasons why Jeff was so beloved, but none were taken. Why didnt we ever get to see mire of the daughters story? That was interesting, and it ended as soon as it started. So disappointing. And the way it ended was hollow, uninteresting and lazy.

Let people believe what they want to believe

[Rob-O-Cop · 7/10 · 20 September 2023]

Is pretty much the message of this film. It wasn't supposed to be a rib splitting laugh a minute comedy and you probably should have guessed that from the trailer of the first 5 minutes.

What it did deliver was something a little bit thought provoking, and little bit visually beautiful (some wonderful shots and scenery), a serious chunk of weird mood, but not in a bad way, and some great acting.

It was a very different movie from the normal guns and violence fare we are almost exclusively offered as entertainment. Simon Pegg delivered a really unusual character where it was hard to recognise him as Simon Pegg even though he looked exactly like Simon Pegg.

Paul Kaye also delivered a wonderful character, and we got a thoroughly believable 1930s, not that I'd know what it looked like then.

The trick of the movie was the balancing act between knowing it was a hoax, but leaving enough seeds of doubt to not let you 100% rule it out, and it did that pretty well.

The only clunker parts of the film were the old professors chatting wisely sections where it got a bit too much eloquent talk where it didn't quite click as natural.

A thought provoking film with implications well outside of whether a talk spirit mongoose exists.

So much promise but...

[phil-95730 · 2/10 · 31 December 2023]

It would be lovely to believe that the film has the same pace as the trailers, but sadly this is not the case.

Feeling like a poorly veiled metaphor for atheists vs religious believers, this film slowly trudges toward a painful non-conclusion, before the director finally has the last laugh at the protagonist's expense.

Watch for Pegg and Driver's impeccable acting, but be prepared for this to be one of those slow movies where the outcome does not necessarily give a decent payoff for your chronological sacrifice.

I'm a huge fan of slow burn films that lead their characters through transformation, but this one was not well received by us, sadly.

Enjoyed it more than I had expected

[ryangreen2 · 7/10 · 13 November 2023]

I watched this on a longer train journey home this weekend, knowing it was a 5.3 rating at the time I queued it up. Was pleasantly surprised / intrigued and had to finish it off both on the tube then in bed when home.

Not quite sure what to make of it, leading me back to IMDb to check Trivia and other reviews! Knowing that it was based on true story, would have been useful to know beforehand.

A few of the characters seemed quite well acted, and even if perhaps a bit under-developed, Minnie Driver's acting seemed pretty good to my uncultured tastes. I'm curious what people might think of Simon Pegg's accent!

Nice costumes

[sweavo-668-942461 · 3/10 · 9 November 2023]

Simon Pegg, Minnie Driver and Christopher Lloyd? And a talking mongoose?! So then, pacing, subtle and blatant hijinks, irony, Howie humiliation and pop culture nods, then? Great Scott!

Nope.

Script and direction are bad, boring, and a shocking waste of acting talent.

My wife is a determined fan of quirky movies. She lasted 40 minutes. I was already out after the laboured opening scene where slow dialog tells us almost nothing and takes a long time doing it, while we are distracted by cigarette smoke that serves no purpose in the scene.

Could be palatable played at 1.5x. I mean, they spend TWO MINUTES just showing us idents of the various production and financing companies.

Ugh.

You're better off listening to the Half Hammered Horror podcast episode that recently accidentally tied in to the launch of this movie than watching the movie itself.

It the best but worth a watch.

[thetremor · 6/10 · 12 November 2023]

This film is really a thoughtful examination into how human beings deal with the expectation of death, how they think about it, and how this changes the way that they live their lives. I think that's part of the reason that this is so underrated, because many people would think this too morbid a topic, especially for a comedy. But I just find it interesting.

I'd say this is the kind of film for people who like to contemplate profound questions in their head. If you are one of those people I would recommend that you check it out.

This film is very whimsical and self aware. It's light on the comedy, but there were several moments that made me smile. The humour is quite dry and subtle.

Overall I would say it kept my curiosity throughout and gave me some things to think about, and that makes it worth the short run time of an hour and a half.

Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose

[Prismark10 · 3/10 · 13 November 2023]

Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose lives up to its title. Well the talking bit.

Writer/director Adam Sigal comes unstuck with this strange comedy. Hungarian/American paranormal investigator Nandor Fodor (Simon Pegg) visits the Isle of Man in the 1930s to the wealthy Irving family. They claim to have a speaking Mongoose called Gef in their farmhouse. Nandor has been sent there by another paranormal investigator Harry Price (Christopher Lloyd.)

No independent observer outside the family has ever seen the creature. Some have heard its bizarre voice inside the walls or under the floorboards. When Nandor arrives at the farmhouse, the Mongoose has absconded. The Irvings has not seen it for days.

Nandor's assistant Anne (Minnie Driver) talks to the daughter Voirrey Irving, a talented ventriloquist in a house where the voice carries!

Sigal prefaces the movie with a segment about talking animals set in India. However what should be a quirky charming comedy fails on all counts.

There is too much talking because the story is slight. It is even left open ended when it is obvious that Voirrey was likely to be behind it all.

The movie based on true events, the Dalby Spook but this film went nowhere near the Isle of Man to shoot. The actors playing the locals settle for some kind of generic northern accent instead of a Manx one.

Divine

[avanhauser · 8/10 · 5 November 2023]

I read reviews before I watched. I expected to be mildly entertained and extremely bored. I wasn't.

We are taken on a pilgrimage to discover if something you cannot see exists. There is magic, faith and self discovery in this story that I just love. The idea that something exists beyond what we can see and explain is as old as humans telling stories and this was an amazing new way of telling it.

I loved it all. Simon Pegg rarely disappoints and Minnie Driver brings class with levity. I hope there is another with the pair of them. The time set in the 30s is gorgeous - plus, you get to really focus on the story without the burden of technology in the way.

Watch with an open mind and you will find something very exciting.

Something to do while eating your popcorn...

[deon-24 · 7/10 · 22 September 2023]

The positives are the quirkiness, slight humor, tell-tale untruths and Simon. From the onset it was clear that the script writing was initially forced. While Anne reads to Fodor and in the subsequent meeting with Dr Price, the storyline (from Frodor's perspective) goes from "boredom" to "exuberance" in a flash based on an obvious trickery of a talking mongoose

Once past that, the movie troddles along with a nice pace, creating smiles and some laughter at the innocuous gullibility of the 1930's era. Today we just smile... I particularly enjoyed the cave part. It was sooooo obvious, but still worthy of a smile. The Irvings must have had a real joyride out of their constructed story (or should that be concocted)

Cinematography was good, acting above par (although I think Simon should stick to the REAL Impossible Missions). Filming was good, as well at the locations. Nice touch personally to see Clive Lloyd there in perhaps one of his last performances. Always enjoy Ms Driver as well

Kudos to the initial thinker of bringing this story to the screen. There are two nice endings..... before and after the credits.

Waste of time

[ksoham-20859 · 1/10 · 28 November 2023]

I don't recommend this film to people who are looking for mystery, some thriller type of feel. It's totally waste of time to watch such a roughly written storyline. I personally think that story writer might have got confused and he/she intended to write a good story but failed and somehow writer convinced director that it'll make a good story because people are stupid they will make sense of such an absurd story.

The one thing i would still appreciate is the actors did a great job I mean the main characters.

The only thing you gonna learn from this story is simply this "everyone wants to be remembered, heard by the people" "People believe what they want to believe"

Nandor Fodor & The Talking Mongoose: A Sleep-Inducing Pointless-Enigma Unveiled!

[P3n-E-W1s3 · 4/10 · 8 November 2023]

Story: 0.25/2 - Direction & Pace: 2.75/2 - Performances: 0.50/2 - Enjoyment 0.50/2

Total - 4/10

"Nandor Fodor & The Talking Mongoose," the 2023 true-story movie that's so baffling that it naturally causes you to wonder why you're watching it. This notable film (for all the wrong reasons) is a head-scratcher of cosmic proportions that has you yearning for answers but merely delivers perplexity and a dull migraine.

Our incredible story? A learned doctor's quixotic quest to expose a talking mongoose is akin to an unfortunate expedition into the Bermuda Triangle of modern cinema, where believability and excitement vanish. As the end credits roll, you're reluctantly pondering the precise meaning of life. You can't help but genuinely feel you've squandered precious hours of your existence.

Now, the clunky dialogue is as though the writers raided the library's most obscure thesaurus, picked out random influential words and flung them into the script like a culinary experiment gone wrong. The characters' dialogue is so laughably pretentious it inevitably feels like watching a miserable cat try to philosophize about quantum physics. And let's not forget the dullness factor, which is as exhilarating as watching paint dry and not even particularly philosophical paint!

On the bright side, the creative direction is superb, with great visuals, captivating lighting, and brilliant camera angles. The eye candy's like serving a gourmet meal on a paper plate-it looks tremendous but has nothing substantial beneath. And the slow tempo undoubtedly adds to the boredom, transforming your viewing experience into a slow-motion descent into the desolate land of tedium.

Now, the cast. You'd naively think with such an eclectic mix of considerable talent, the movie would undoubtedly gain a fighting chance. Wrong. The distinctive accents are like shifting sands in a dreary desert, which only a few can navigate convincingly. The rest? They're like performers engaging in a bizarre game of international hopscotch, and it's more confusing than a labyrinth.

In unavoidable conclusion, "Nandor Fodor & The Talking Mongoose" is a riddle wrapped in an eternal enigma, with a side helping of existential crisis. I strongly advise you to avoid this cinematic quagmire like the bubonic plague. Instead, check your DVD collection or favourite streaming service for something less bombastically prosaic. You won't get back the precious time invested in this enigmatic mess, but you might undoubtedly find something more rewarding elsewhere.

Mind numbingly slow

[redfrith · 3/10 · 24 October 2023]

The heart or the problem is a lack of immediacy to the editing. Every scene for the first half of the movie drags out like a polite but staggeringly boring conversation at a cocktail party. The director seems intent on showing off hos cast by wringing every last second of what he captured on film into the movie without editing for pacing, timing, dread, humor or wit. Blind faith is rewarded and scientific questioning is vilified for no apparent reason. By the end the viewer is as exhausted by the turning of fun characters into mindless zealots of the church of Jeff and left wondering like the main character why you signed up for the trip. A waste of film... but a very nice original soundtrack.

Seeing what you believe

[feyipuk · 5/10 · 13 November 2023]

Having driven through Dalby on the way to Niarbyl beach (famous from Waking Ned), I've heard the story of the Dalby Spook and it's unproven nature a few times. An island that has a bus announcement when you go over the Fairy Bridge, and many other folklores, a talking mongoose believed to be a spirit by the family of comeovers and a few of the locals. It did seem strange that it's filmed in Yorkshire - Simon Pegg and Minnie Driver sat on a little motor launch getting to the island as though they're crossing Malham Tarn - though the lighting and set design is impeccable, with some of the in house shots having theatre like quality.

The cast is a tight knit group of well known actors. That they have Sir Ben Kingsleys son (yes, I'm sure that's how he wishes to be known), Edmund playing a none speaking part, while many of the critical lines are spoken - but not on screen - by comic book legend Neil Gaiman, is telling of how the story is laid out. It wasn't until the very end that I could see what Nandors intentions where. He starts the film in a tv studio, chain smoking, as he he's asked does he believe in ghosts, and his response is to say what he sees, which isn't what everyone else can see. And yet, when someone asks his assistant what she believes, she says Nandor has taught her to believe in science, what you can prove, etc.

Likewise, you have the Irving family, led by comedy stalwart Tim Downie. At no point do I find him serious. He has literally moved his family to another country, to start farming, encounters a talking mongoose that could well be real, but the way he's acting it could be his wife with a sock puppet and his daughter the ventriloquist. There seems no motivation to fool or know if they're being fooled. Throw in long time Eastenders actor, Gary Beadle whose beliefs are equally unknown, and if you're hoping for a Scooby Doo style adventure, then this isn't for you.

Sometimes the mystery is more entertaining than the solution.

Not worth watching, don't waste your time.

[missnofear · 1/10 · 15 November 2023]

Never been so board in my life. An hour & 5 mins in I turned it off, that's an hour & 5 nins of my life I will never get back, wish I switched ut off sooner but was hoping it would pick up & actually be worth watching. If you value your precious time, don't waste it on this load of cr@p. I'd rather watch 6 month's straight of my 3 year old nephews favourite TV show than finish watching this.

I should have know it would be cr@p when I saw it had Simon Pegg in, he's such a bad actor & I e never enjoyed anything with him in, so I usually avoid films with him as the lead, but someone said how ' amazing ' & how much its a ' great to watch ' movie. How wrong was I to believe either of these things.

A wonderful tribute to an uncanny story

[raygun76 · 10/10 · 2 October 2023]

I'm a filmmaker with a keen interest in the paranormal and the supernatural - so when I saw that someone was going to be making a "Gef!" film my heart sunk. There are very few artists who can understand the complexities of a seemingly absurd story. The "true" story of Gef is seemingly ridiculous to most people... A talking mongoose... But what the cast and crew and especially the writer and director understood is the ability to expose those liminal complications and tell a marvelous, strange story.

If you are expecting to buckle over with laughter, while there are some funny moments, this is much more a dramatic film. As someone who has studied the work of Nandor Fodor, this film truly captured his battle with cynicism and a desire to research the incredible.

I am not a big fan of modern films, even alot of the indies, but this really re-inspired me - and while I am upset that I didnt have the chance to make it, i'm very happy that the film was treated in a way that wasn't obvious or boring. One of the best films i have seen in years.

Humourless

[iamchrisiam-682-74783 · 1/10 · 11 January 2024]

The true story of the talking mongoose of the Isle of Mann is full of interesting events.

This film barely mentions any of the true story.

The film is about Nandor Fodor, who is portrayed as alcoholic depressive. There is nothing to suggest the events take place on the Isle of Mann.

The haunting mediocrity of the film finally arrives at the end credits, which feature a montage of cast and crew expressing dissatisfaction with the director.

This film is notable as being an unwavering failure culminating in a fourth wall breaking admission of an unenjoyable production.

As you will see the only positive comments in other reviews refer to camera techniques or actors. The film itself is completely uninteresting.

The studio would have made more money filming Simon Pegg and Christopher Lloyd having a conversation as themselves. Clearly the draw of the movie was the famous actors, as there was no compelling story or characters to enjoy in this feature.

Is this an ad for cigarettes?

[jjbritton-46221 · 5/10 · 3 January 2024]

Even the inimitable style of Simon Pegg cannot save this tired and boring piece of fluff. Pegg smokes seven cigarettes in the first 18 minutes: this seems extraordinarily over the top.

One is left wondering whether the budget was fronted by Big Tobacco, and split 47/47/6 between Pegg, Driver and the scriptwriter. The scriptwriter was massively overpaid for this twaddle. Just saying.

The entirety of this 90 minute movie is less entertaining than a six minute sketch of Big Train. Unless you're into wasting your time and cigarette porn, maybe give it a miss. There are a plethora of Pegg films that are far superior.

Watched it twice already

[cairo-cairo · 8/10 · 24 September 2023]

The movie is that good. Why it got so low ratings is beyond me. I find it a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable watch. Far far away from the dramas, thrillers, actions, whatever that are so prevalent and formulaic otherwise. It is of a bygone era. You don't feel malice from any of the characters. The humor is understated. The acting quite refined. And the cinematography is beautiful.

The movie is that good. Why it got so low ratings is beyond me. I find it a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable watch. Far far away from the dramas, thrillers, actions, whatever that are so prevalent and formulaic otherwise. It is of a bygone era. You don't feel malice from any of the characters. The humor is understated. The acting quite refined. And the cinematography is beautiful.

Thoroughly enjoyable and beautifully filmed

[roirrawedoreht · 10/10 · 22 September 2023]

I was on the fence after watching the trailer, but a quick search about the true events this was based on intrigued my wife and I in several ways.

I'm glad we watched it, and thought this movie was perfect. My wife enjoyed it, too. All the actors make it look easy to play their characters, all while giving impassioned performances while still being uniquely comedic when appropriate.

I feel that Minnie Driver is especially funny early on. Just the way the first few minutes of the movie went, I immediately liked it, and the rest of the movie didn't disappoint me. It's beautifully shot, too.

I don't care about awards, but if I did, I'd say this movie deserves several.

Such a beautifully nuanced story well executed!

[cellbayinc · 10/10 · 27 September 2023]

Nandor was an instant cult classic. Casted perfectly with a delightfully dark atmosphere. Simon Pegg, Minnie Driver and Christopher Lloyd worked so well together and Adam Sigal did an excellent job directing.

This film had it all. Comedy, mystery and some profound questions about life courtesy of Gef the talking mongoose.

Sigal's vision of the tale of Gef and Nandor Fodor was moody and had a touch of nostalgia.

The film made me believe in Gef, his wisdom and his insights. I'm almost waiting for my phone to ring expecting a call from Gef with some profound question for me.

Lastly, Paul Kaye's butt scene was absolutely glorious.

Loved it!

[Jezestorm · 10/10 · 5 September 2023]

This is a fun and quirky film filled with outstanding actors! I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and recommend Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose to everyone! I am an investor in Legion M and it was pretty cool to see my name in the credits! This movie is a combination of just the right mix of comedy and drama. I traveled over fifty miles to see this movie and it certainly was worth the drive and did not disappoint. If you are tired of all the gore and hatred in so many movies today then you must go see Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose. And don't forget to take your friends with you! It's a fun movie!

A lovely little film about a time when scientists could still ask the question 'What if...?'

[adeware · 10/10 · 15 November 2023]

This is a very underrated film about a real paranormal case that happened in the UK in the 1930s. I would recommend researching the history of this story online before veiwing, as ever be careful with the Wikipedia entries. I found that all of the acting fit the piece well and Simon Pegg, Minnie Driver and Paul Kaye were pitch perfect. In my opinion Paul Kaye is a very under appreciated actor capable of superb comedic and dramatic performaces.

The film references a time from not so long ago when the scientific community was still willing to entertain the hypothesis 'What If....'. Isn't that what science ought to be, open minded, seeking truths and considering all possibilities? No, I don't believe there was really a talking mongoose but I would love to know what really happened. This film leaves you with that question to ponder, it's one of those films that still has you thinking two days later. As one of the other reviewers commented it makes a delightful change from the violence, gore and predictable endings of so many of the films made today. My only negative is that disappointingly an American was cast as the very well known British Psychical Researcher Harry Price.