A Netflix original, Irish Wish directed by Janeen Damian is a banal attempt at the rom-com genre. The plot revolves around the female protagonist’s unrequited love for a man who doesn’t deserve it and her steadfast wish to be his bride even though he is getting married to her childhood friend. Almost all of the film is set in Ireland and impeccably showcases its picturesqueness—which is perhaps the only saving grace in this completely avoidable cinematic experience.
Lindsay Lohan as Maddie is a talented book editor suffering from low self-worth. Alexander Vlahos as Paul Kennedy is a celebrity writer exploiting Maddie’s writing talent for his benefit. He wouldn’t share book credits with her—let alone understand her feelings or propose marriage to her. Maddie’s helicopter mum (Jane Seymour) feels Maddie’s losing Paul to her friend, Emma (Elizabeth Tan) because she delayed expressing her feelings to him. Another friend of Maddie’s, Heather, played by Ayesha Curry, adds nothing to the story. Most characters in the film border on neutrality and don’t get a chance to evolve fully—the only exception to this would be James (Ed Speleers), the nature photographer Maddie randomly meets on the bus in Ireland. He is hard to dislike and can easily be called the most genuine, kind, and loveable character of all. As happens usually, he is unable to attract the attention of the confused heroine who would do anything to be loved by the wrong guy.
The film may remind you of Leap Year from 2010, but that was a much better story, and the characters remained with you long after.
The dialogue, characterization, costume design, acting, and execution in Irish Wish are all varying degrees of disappointment. The makers underestimate the intelligence of the viewers at several levels. It starts with a slide from the English dictionary highlighting the meaning of ‘wish’ as a verb because of course the film’s audiences might confine the magical word to nouns. I would rather their creative team instead used a quote or two about wishing and wishes.
What about “Be as you wish to seem” by Socrates or “I do not wish women to have power over men, but over themselves” by Mary Shelley, or whatever!
What annoyed me most was the film’s misleading title. There is nothing Irish about the wish that’s central here. Invoking Saint Brigid of Ireland doesn’t warrant calling someone’s generic marriage wish ‘Irish.’
And why would you dress Saint Brigid in that fashion, for god’s sake?! I looked up depictions of Saint Brigid available in the public domain and none wore salwar kameez like this saint of peacemaking and fertility is seen wearing in the film. They got the head scarf right though!
One scene worth remembering is shot in a tavern-like place where James and Maddie spend some time on a stormy night. This is where the two begin to develop feelings for each other. They are surrounded by merry-making and Irish dancing. They look happy in the most natural way. No unartful dialogue clumping the scene here!
Overall, I can say, this rom-com could have been a hot favorite for a ten-year-old me.
Watch it if you must!
PS. Images clicked by Patrick Redmond (available via Netflix)
Ambika Singh,PhD 