There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Wow this movie was terrible and in no way is better than Sister Act as some reviewers have stated. I just don't believe that this movie does comedic justice for the talented Eric Idle & Robbie Coltrane. They are better than this and seem to fall flat in their portrayal as two cross-dressing nuns on the run from the law. Also no one in their right minds would believe they were women. They literally look like men with habits on. Not impressed.The material and jokes aren't much better. I laughed only a couple of times throughout and found myself trying to prevent boredom for the rest of the time. It may have been funnier at one stage but this movie has not aged well and it deserves to stay in the past. My recommendation would be to give it a miss.

Only minor spoilers.If you're an atheist, an agnostic, a deist, or just plain Church-hating, you can do worse than watch this little big-screen blasphemy for 90 minutes. Keep in mind though that NOTR is essentially a formula comedy, i.e. not nearly as extreme or ambitious in its Church-bashing as "Life of Brian", "Bedazzled" (Cook/Moore version) or even "In God We Tru$t", but with enough cheeky Bible-drubbing to appease those of us who can't get enough of it.It's also a very amusing, light-hearted, and fast-paced comedy that profits greatly from a fun, cheerful script and the two leads, especially Coltrane who steals the show. The fact that Idle's love-interest is played by the very cute Camille Coduri isn't a negligible bonus either. Whatever happened to her movie career? Julia Roberts became a star around this time, and this cute English thing didn't? What kind of a sick and twisted world do we live in?Most commercial comedies, especially action comedies, have very weak endings. NOTR, however, has a fun finale that isn't just a gag-devoid collection of action scenes intended to wrap up the story. In that sense NOTR is a success from start to finish, a refreshing change.If there is any criticism to make it's pairing up Idle and Coduri as a romantic couple. Idle is funny-looking at the best of times, but the real problem lies in the ridiculous age-gap. He is 22 years older – and it shows. If they wanted to go for "absurd love", they might as well have gone all-out and hooked up Coltrane with the sexy Camille.If you're unsure about whether to check out NOTR, don't be deterred by writer/director Lynn's post-NOTR filmography. It wasn't just his fault that "Sgt Bilko" (unfunny) and "My Cousin Vinny" (not a real comedy) sucked so much; he only directed those, i.e. had nothing to do with those miserable scripts.No comparison to "We're No Angels", which is basically a rubbish movie.

Written and directed with gusto by Jonathan Lynn, "Nuns on the Run" is very engaging, very British comedy that keeps the men-in-drag staple alive and kicking. It's energetic, breezy, snappy stuff with some great lines, some gentle digs at Catholicism, and spirited performances, especially from stars Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane. Produced by George Harrison's Handmade Films company, it follows Idle, as Brian, and Coltrane, as Charlie, two small time criminals sick and tired of working for a thuggish young boss, "Case" Casey (Robert Patterson). They learn that their boss plans on stealing money from the Triads, so Brian and Charlie decide to purloin the money for themselves. They make a mess of the job, and end up being forced to hide in a convent, where they have to pass themselves off as nuns - Sister Inviolata of the Immaculate Conception and Sister Euphemia of the Five Wounds ("Five Wounds" for short). What follows is predictable enough but still entertaining farce as Brian and Charlie go about their nuns' duties, while the mobsters they double crossed try to track them down, and Brians' love interest Faith (the adorable Camille Coduri) does the same. The film overall doesn't work as well when the focus is off Brian and Charlie, but it still entertains solidly and agreeably for its 93 minute duration. It gets off to a very bright start, ends up sagging a little, but ultimately gets back on track with a wonderfully lively finish. The best thing about it is a sterling pair of performances by the well cast, likable leads; the supporting cast are no slouches, though, with Janet Suzman as the Sister Superior, Lila Kaye as Sister Mary of the Annunciation, and the hilarious Doris Hare as Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart. There isn't much violence, and what little there is, is played for laughs, although viewers might be surprised to see some topless shots from the comely young students at the convent. Among the highlights are Charlie's take on sinning and religion as he explains it to a horn dog priest, Father Seamus (Tom Hickey), his basketball game with the girls, and Brian's predicament as he attempts to visit Faith while still trying to pull the wool over the real nuns' eyes. Punctuated by a typically amusing score by the group Yello (those guys who will likely always be best remembered for their "Oh Yeah" tune), "Nuns on the Run" is a good, fun flick from start to finish, and it comes up with a fine punchline at the end. Seven out of 10.

I agree this movie is hilarious but I can't prove it by any particular scene. English humor, especially Monty Python is generally too silly for my American tastes, but Robbie Coltrane and Eric Idle together are as good as Laurel and Hardy. They have the chemistry that make any unusual situation a real hoot. An odd couple in a strange situation isn't always enough, i.e. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in Twins (1988). It takes a natural timing that Eric and Robbie have developed over many years in the comedy business. Once you let yourself start laughing with this film, its hard to stop. Its a great video selection you can enjoy again and again. Watch for the subtle stuff, or just play it in the background for an occasional chuckle when family arrives for the holidays. I'd rate it an 8 at least.