WAS it worth the wait? You bet it was, writes PADDY SHENNAN. It's not every day (or year) that you watch a film which oozes with likability – and Charlie Noades RIP is that film. "Wayne Rooney's just arrived!" I overheard someone say as I left the Showcase as the credits rolled. If that was true, then he missed a treat. Neil Fitzmaurice leads a top-notch cast in a low-budget film which is high on quality and high on laughs – a terrific tale well told. The action centres on struggling family business Parr's Scrap and Salvage, run by Les Parr (John McArdle), who has been forced to take out a dodgy loan from big bad property developer Vinny McCoy (John Henshaw) – one default and McCoy will have the land he needs for his latest development. Les's son, Steve (Neil Fitzmaurice) has big plans for the yard but is blissfully unaware of the perilous position it is now in. And then, out of the blue, Steve is left a small chest in a will by a complete stranger which contains diaries telling of Steve's grandfather's old gang and a shipment of gold, hidden after being taken from a wrecked boat in the mid-1950s. The location of the gold was known only to Steve's grandfather and his sudden death took the secret with him to the grave. Cue a modern-day treasure hunt – can Steve find the gold and save the day? That would be telling. The film is packed with delicious dialogue, winning one-liners and delightful characters – all human life is here (together with a very randy dog). It's a real team effort from a cast which looked like it had as much fun making it as the audience at the premiere had in watching it. Some things really are worth waiting for. VERY MUCH ALIVE 9/10
