You know this is pure fantasy when the Cliffs of Moher are made to look like secluded and not swarming with thousands of tourists.
What it's about
Literary editor Maddie makes a wish to marry the successful writer she edits for, with whom she's secretly in love, and wakes up to find herself living that fantasy.
The take
As far as destination romantic comedies go, Irish Wish is at least self-aware enough to commit to its corniness without making its characters too insufferable to follow. For once avoidable misunderstandings don't drive the conflict, as the story progresses as one extended "be careful what you wish for" journey of self-discovery. Still, one can't help but feel like this exact same message could have been told even without the central fantasy plot device—and it probably would have earned its resolutions much more this way. Every move the film makes is predictable, but it definitely still possesses the energy of a group of filmmakers who probably enjoyed their time making it.
What stands out
There's always a chance that Ireland and Irish people might be reduced into quaint stereotypes by an American production, but that thankfully doesn't happen here. The film doesn't exactly showcase Irish culture in a very prominent way either, but it does get to show off the beauty of various Irish landscapes (and one particularly lavish estate). As a movie that's been designed for happy couples' comfort viewing, it does its job in transporting its target audience away from their living rooms for an hour and a half—and sometimes that's all one needs in a movie for an evening.
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Forgotten Love (2023)
The stunning third take of the classic Polish pre-war melodrama
7.7
His Three Daughters (2024)
Three sisters deal with life and death in this moving family portrait
8.9
Incendies (2011)
Part melodrama, part war thriller, Incendies is gorgeous and heartbreaking from the first scene
9.9
Wild Tales (2014)
Co-produced by Pedro Almodóvar, this tumultuous Argentine anthology film tests the limits of human sanity when pushed to the extremes – and will also test yours.
9.9
The Farewell (2019)
Awkwafina shines in this complex culture clash comedy.
9.1
Booksmart (2019)
Two academic overachievers from high school set out to prove that they're a smart and fun for one last time.
9.0
The Edge of Democracy (2019)
Mixing personal history with hardcore journalism, this is the story of Brazil's fragile democracy.
9.0
Captain Fantastic (2016)
Viggo Mortensen is fantastic in this plot-twisting drama about a survivalist American family
9.5
Sound of Metal (2020)
Riz Ahmed excels in this piercing drama about a musician losing his hearing.