Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The Plot: From the director of Driving Miss daisy comes this compelling, heartwarming and inspiring true story of a father (Pierce Brosnan) who faces impossible odds to keep his family together. Times are tough in Dublin, Ireland. But no one has it tougher than Desmond Doyle when his wife runs off and his beloved daughter Evelyn and two young sons are sent to an orphanage by the government. Enlisting the help of loyal friends (Julianna Margulies, Stephen Rea) and a feisty American lawyer (Aidan Quinn), he takes his case to Ireland's Supreme court in a history-making quest to topple an ironclad law...and win back custody of his children! My Spiel: This is truly a touching movie. I remember renting it on a whim. At a time when Pierce Brosnan was big in the 007 scene, he managed to spit this one of a kind great movie out. Granted I am a fan of some of his 007 work. But this was a step above all that, the story is great, the actors play it perfectly. But the only down side is that you can't watch this over and over. It's a joyful movie but for some reason it's not a movie I feel I can truly watch again and again. It's more of a once viewing in 2 months period. But that doesn't in the lest say this is a bad movie, it's a great movie "heck I should know, I bought it". Based on a true story and a true quest to find was is truly important in one mans life (A great feel good movie). If you think Perce Brosnan is only fit for the 007 action pack movies, just watch this you are sure to be surprised! Evelyn (2002) Review: 8/10

They are generally from Disney or from many other studios now, and they contain a plot similar to the animated movies but are acted in live flesh and have fundamentals in people's feelings. They are also movies that have the best intentions and are directed to the heart.MGM brings "Evelyn" and along with it brings Pierce Brosnan in an unlikely usual but pleasant role. I could only think of him saying: "I'm Bond…James Bond", and now he comes with this Irish accent with doesn't suit him right (and he is Irish!); but we forgive him. In fact, we forgive lots of things in movies like this. Brosnan ends up achieving a moving and dedicated performance, making us forget about his old spy roles. He plays Desmond Doyle, a father abandoned by his wife that has to leave their children to authorities due to a lack of money. Then, with strength and courage plus the help of some, they arrive to a trial…This is based in a true story.These characters, the ones I like to call "helpers"; because they stay with the hero from the start until the end. They also carry on with specific plot obligations. Alan Bates plays the old fox Tom Connolly, who wants to take his glory days back, and he puts a lot of enthusiasm to the movie. Brian McGrath's Hugh Canning, Connolly's friend and newsman, who informs the results of the trials in the most cheerful way. Nick Barron, the lawyer who was first against, but then helped more than any other, played by Aidan Quinn with an elegant smile and charm. Stephen Rea shows to be in top form with his honest but shy lawyer Michael Beattie. And his sister, Bernadette Beattie, puts some love again in Desmond's life and is played by Julianna Margulies with innocence and wisdom. It is a wonderful showcase of performances; director Bruce Beresford seems to know them all and when everybody looks comfortable… Still, from all these characters the one who highlights the most is Evelyn (Sophie Vavasseur), one of Desmond's children. I can clearly see the plot's interest in her, because of thefilm's title, but even when the bond between her and her father is strong, she shouldn't have been the plot's center; because it obligates us to give an importance to her that she doesn't probably have. There other two sons (I won't even mention their names because they don't even seem to be there) and Desmond's father Henry (a marvelous Frank Kelly), but we mostly see Evelyn in church with the nuns and no other relevant subplot whatsoever. However, young actress Vavasseur is a revelation and shows gifts of an immense talent; and that's a positive thing for pieces of this type.We get the usual; including a script by Paul Pender full of phrases, as I said, "directed to the heart", that unite to that touching music and that captivating image in this movie, where everything is correct, but it ultimately depends of us…If we let it in or not.

In this film, Pierce Brosnan who I'll always remember as James Bond, stars as a dad who's determined to get his kids back before Christmas. This is a wonderful story everyone can enjoy, a few spoilers ahead, Desmond Doyle doesn't have enough money to support his family, and it gets worse, his wife has abandoned them, and there's no one left to care for his children, and the Church and Irish court has ordered that they be brought to orphanages, but Doyle still wants them back, and his daughter Evelyn gets abused by one of the nuns, and then a trial starts for him to get them back after an Irish-American decides to be his lawyer, and it is a close one, but he won't give up till he gets them back. This film really touched me, and caught the attention of many more, and changed a nation. I liked especially the part when the girl describes the truth of what the sister did to her, contrary to what she said about helping her, it was cool to rip the mascara off of her! And I like the part when Desmond describes what the Catholic family is based on, the Holy Trinity. Recommended for everyone, for the entire family. Well done Mr. Bond!

I just watched this movie on pay per view, and I thought it was delightful. Pierce Brosnan does a fine job. So nice to see him really get a chance to act. And the supporting cast, including Alan Bates and Stephen Rea, is exceptional. The story is very believable and touching, probably because it is based on a true story. I just wonder why this film, directed by the talented Bruce Beresford, did not make any significant splash when it was released. It may have played in Austin, but I don't remember it. Just shows how marketing, or lack of it, can make a movie disappear. It's a shame it didn't get more attention. I heartily recommend it.