DJ-turned-record shop and record-label owner Terri Hooley (Dormer) was responsible for championing punk music and ignited the scene in Belfast during the 1970s. This entertaining film tells Terri's colourful story, and celebrates a music genre that unexpectedly became a voice of resistance in Northern Ireland.
It's easy to forget howviolent The Troubles were before the Good Friday Agreement in April, 1998. As Terry said: "When it comes to punk, New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason." The son of a Northern Irish mother and a staunch English socialist and political activist, Terri (played with endless enthusiasm by Richard Dormer) refused to take sides, preferring to believe music could unite everyone and bring his city back to life.
A lover of reggae, rockabilly, country and blues, Terri had his "come to Jesus" moment with punk when he attended a gig and band Rudi played a song called Big Time. Instantly smitten, Terri, who by this time had a record shop called Good Vibrations in a bombed-out part of Belfast, set up a recording label because "everybody has to hear them" .
Turns out, not everybody wanted to hear Rudi's track -- as Terri, our narrator, wryly says, "It was Northern Ireland, some resistance was to be expected." It didn't stop him going on to sign bands The Outcasts, The Tearjerkers, and the John Peel-championed The Undertones.
Good Vibrations is Terri Hooley's hoot of a story and it's told with Irish wit, irreverence and charm. Terri may have been a hero to music fans in Belfast, but his wife, accountant and business manager were driven to despair by his chaotic personal life and lack of business acumen. It makes good light-hearted entertainment, and although occasionally the momentum ebbs, the high-octane punk soundtrack helps deliver real passion and energy.
What really makes Good Vibrations memorable though, apart from the terrible haircuts and wigs, is the way this story plays out against the backdrop of the Irish conflict. The use of historical archive footage is powerful and adds depth and reality to Terri's story. His life may have had comedic moments but respect is shown for what people experienced during a difficult period in Irish history.
And just as importantly, Good Vibrations reminds us of the role punk music played in expressing the frustration and rage of a disenfranchised generation.
Cast: Jodie Whittaker, Dylan Moran, Richard Dormer Director: Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn Running Time: 100 mins Rating: M (violence, offensive language and drug use) Verdict: A fun combo of comedy, punk and politics.
