“Whether or not [author Neil] McCormick’s idea could have been turned into a decent comedy by anyone, though, is a moot point. As it is, a badly structured film leaves the young principals clueless and floundering.
Killing Bono doesn’t even bother being chronologically accurate: a pole-dancing club in a 80s rural Irish village is just one of its many sloppy gaffes. The sole bright spot is Martin McCann’s drawling Bono: he’s perfectly cast, and is the only convincing thing is this whole sorry mess.”
Paul Whitington, Irish Independent
“It’s hardly worth pointing out how skewed is the film’s view of Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s, but we’ll do so anyway. Is that a strip club I see? What’s this with U2’s debut album being touted as the soundtrack to the Pope’s visit, when in fact it was released a full year after those sacred events in the Phoenix Park? Why is everyone talking as if they’ve just sat through a marathon viewing of The OC?
Such things matter because they contribute to the overwhelming sense of phoniness that hangs around Killing Bono . If it were funny, the lack of authenticity wouldn’t matter. If it were authentic, then the doleful dearth of humour would, well, matter somewhat less.”
Donald Clarke. Irish Times