Have you ever wished that you could edit the plotline of your life? Hardworking editor Maddie Kelly is head over heels for her boss, renowned romance author Paul Kennedy. There’s just one problem though – Paul has no idea of her feelings for him. As Maddie keeps her silence, she watches as he falls in love with her friend Emma, and before she knows it, she’s a bridesmaid at their wedding in Ireland.
Distraught by her regret and feelings of cowardice, Maddie finds herself wishing for Paul while sitting on an ancient stone, only to wake up as his bride-to-be. As she experiences the life she had always dreamed of with Paul, she finds herself questioning whether her wish was truly what her heart desires. Her situation is further complicated when she discovers her attraction to the humble wedding photographer, whose creative and contemplative disposition prove to be far more alluring to Maddie.
While Lindsay Lohan is a crowd favorite actress, having worked on iconic films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, like Mean Girls and The Parent Trap, her performance as Maddie Kelly in this movie fell flat. Her character’s constant confusion and lack of consideration for her friends’ feelings throughout the movie made her difficult to sympathize with.
Lohan’s co-star, Ed Speleers, who played Maddie’s love interest James Thomas, made the most of a dull script but still lacked the originality and spark that often characterizes cheeky love interests in traditional rom-coms.
Alexander Vlahos as the pretentious Paul Kennedy delivered a consistent performance as the dreamy, if slightly annoying, golden boy. However, Vlahos and Lohan’s chemistry was almost nonexistent at the start of the film, making it difficult to believe Maddie’s intense crush on Paul.
Dawn Bradfield portrayed the mystical Saint Brigid, who encouraged Maddie to make her wish and frequently interfered with the plot to push characters closer together and in many cases to cause chaos. Bradfield brought her character to life with fun, bubbly energy, giving her character the appearance of a quirky, Irish fairy godmother. Her comedic nature made for many funny moments throughout the film. Ayesha Curry as Heather and Elizabeth Tan as Emma were the epitome of rom-com best friends for a majority of the movie. Tan especially showcased her emotional range in Emma’s more vulnerable scenes, such as when she confesses to Maddie about her feelings to Paul.
The production design and set were by far the most redeemable parts of the film. With most of the movie being set in Ireland, the jaw-dropping natural landscapes authentically contribute to the whimsical premise of the film. Although the magical CGI was pretty unconvincing, the elegant architecture of the Kennedy estate combined with the charming Irish towns and enchanting mountains and fields made it a visually interesting watch, despite a lackluster plot.
The costumes in the film were full of vivid colors and eye-catching patterns that added to the cheerful ambience of the rolling Irish hills and wedding party. One notable look was Maddie’s outfit at her engagement party, which consisted of a green, black and white dress with black heels and a black bow in her hair. These details complimented Lohan’s red hair beautifully and matched the color scheme of the set around her perfectly.
Overall, the lack of originality in this plot and the poor acting performances brought down the quality of this film. However, if you are a Lindsay Lohan fan that enjoys corny rom-coms, this movie might be perfect for you. All in all, we believe this film deserves a solid 2 out of 5 stars.
Irish Wish was released on March 15, 2024 and is now streaming on Netflix.
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