The traditional romantic comedy packs in so many clichés that it's hard to squeeze in a genuine spark of inspiration. Boy must meet girl, lose girl, and get girl again—the rules are pretty rigid. Perhaps that's why much-loved Irish novelist Roddy Doyle conceived his first screenplay, When Brendan Met Trudy, as an episodic farce, filled with dozens of throwaway gags and clever in-jokes that take precedent over the pleasant but pedestrian plot. The strategy works wonderfully. Shy, choir-attending film buff Peter McDonald lucks into a date with his gregarious opposite, Flora Montgomery, and though he fruitlessly tries to turn her on to his tamer tastes, her sexy, free-spirited ways ultimately trump his restraint. Yet as Montgomery gradually coaxes McDonald out of his shell, his transformation from square to hipster is interrupted by suspicions that she might not be what she seems. Simple, yes, but director Kieron J. Walsh approaches the tale of mismatched love with a refreshing irreverence, gleefully pilfering classic movie scenes in service of the massive charm offensive led by his two stars, particularly newcomer Montgomery. Doyle brings a smart, smarting wit to the screenplay: He's not afraid to kick a character when he's down, let alone do it for laughs, and he's not above some hilarious lowbrow humor. What saves When Brendan Met Trudy from the pitfalls of so many lesser films is its sheer sense of unabashed fun. Walsh and Doyle keep the mood mostly light and the jokes rapid-fire, while obsessive movie fans should appreciate tips of the hat to films as disparate as Breathless, The Searchers, Sunset Boulevard, and even Miller's Crossing.