Filmed in Dublin, Get up and Go is a low budget affair boasting two of Love/Hate's leading lights in the main roles. Peter Coonan (Alex) and Killian Scott (Coilin) are twenty-something housemates who although seemingly friends for years are two polar opposites. Alex is a wannabe musician who is brash, impulsive and selfish. Coilin is an introverted and awkward romantic type who incongruously is trying to catch a break as a Comedian.
The down-at-heel, impoverished nature of their lives is laid out early on. A depressed looking Coilin waking up in a grimy Dublin flat, goes to the Kitchen to make himself some tea in a pint glass while covered head to toe in his duvet. Meanwhile Alex lies in bed next to his girlfriend over at her place. She announces she is pregnant; he tells her he does not want to be a Daddy at this time but instead wants to proceed with a shared dream he and her had to move to London- with or without her (but definitely not including baby).
Alex's burning need to leave for London that very same day is the narrative device employed here as Coilin, while also declining the offer of going to London with Alex drives him around downtown Dublin as they chase some debts owed and otherwise attempt to borrow the moolah required to meet the fare. Cue many, mostly unfunny encounters with former colleagues, disgruntled employers, detached friends and assorted acquaintances as they go from one place to another.
Unfortunately Get up and Go while striving to be funny doesn't raise enough laughter to be successful in that endeavour. Sure enough, Alex likes to joke around but because he is essentially unlikeable the most I could muster was the occasional titter. On the other hand lovelorn Coilin is played for pathos but because he comes across as plain weird I didn't feel much of an emotional connection with him either. In Coilin's case I think his character may have come to life more with a better back story. As for Alex, right to the end there isn't anything redeemable enough about him that makes me want to root for him.
The most enjoyable part of the movie is in recognising so many of the locations in and around the city of Dublin. It also features music from the likes of Adrian Crowley and Villagers.
