The phrase ‘be careful what you wish for’ from Aesop’s Fables seems to be the core idea for filmmaker Janeen Damian’s latest Netflix outing Irish Wish. This premise is laced with the kind of cautionary whimsy that has fueled many a tale, from ancient myths to modern parables. Damian, known for her affinity towards fabulism and festivity, orchestrates yet another cinematic celebration, this time amidst the emerald backdrop of Ireland. With Lindsay Lohan at the helm, no stranger to the realm of comebacks after her successful resurgence in Falling for Christmas, expectations hovered high as she once again assumes a leading lady’s mantle. However, where there was once enchantment, now lies predictability; where there could have been laughter, a half-hearted chuckle is what one is left with.
Irish Wish accompanies Maddie, played by Lindsay Lohan, on a forlorn journey muddled with the pangs of unrequited love. Her crush, Paul Kennedy, portrayed by Alexander Vlahos, is conveniently betrothed to Maddie’s best friend Emma, a role Elizabeth Tan diligently fulfills. This love triangle finds a mystical twist when Saint Brigid, brought to life by Dawn Bradfield, appears as a harbinger of wishes amidst Ireland’s verdant expanses. Ever so predictably, Maddie wishes earnestly to be married to Paul. As if commanded by fairy-dust, she awakens to find herself in a bridal gown, set to wed the man of her dreams. But as is often the nature of hastily granted desires, consequences rear their heads, deviating the story from its anticipated fairy-tale conclusion.
Expectations paint pictures of hearty laughs and the warmth of gentle romance that one associates with a rom-com, yet Irish Wish often gets embroiled in clichés that might make one yearn for a different genre altogether. Elements that were once the hallmarks of the romantic comedy—the meet-cutes, blundered impressions evolving into deeper connections, and conveniently available suitors—all these tropes are present, but lack the spice they once held. Even the inclusion of a wealth-flaunting, future mother-in-law fails to reinvigorate the familiar storyline, making the narrative feel as if it is borrowed from a novel left untouched on the shelf of a free-book library.
There are however brief instances where Lohan’s awkward charm breathes life into scenes, crafting flickers of potential chemistry with Ed Speleers’ character, James Thomas. Yet the fleeting moments are just that—momentary flickers in a plot that refuses to coalesce into a hearty meal, instead offering a predictable finale.
In lieu of the tangible drama or palpable comedy one might crave, the film indulges in the breathtaking beauty of Ireland. Magnificent landscapes, from the serene vistas of Lough Tay to the dramatic edges of the sea cliffs, are captured with such intensity that one could be forgiven for suspecting the hand of Irish tourism in its production. The captivating visuals act as both a blessing and a curse, as the interludes of beauty highlight the blandness of the sequences that lie between—featuring Lohan and her ill-fated wishful romance.
Lindsay Lohan’s career, with its own dramatic ebbs and flows, warrants a captivating narrative of its own, and as such, it’s disheartening to see such a screen presence limited by a lackluster storyline. The movie title, Irish Wish, while succinct, seems more thoughtless afterthought than cleverly crafted marquee. As the credits roll over the scenic Irish countryside on Netflix, viewers may find themselves wishing not for love or magic, but for a movie that could have made better use of Lohan’s resurgence—a sentiment echoing an irony that the film itself fails to explore in depth. Consider this a wish unfulfilled, as Irish Wish joins the library of films streaming on Netflix, alongside countless other stories waiting to be wished upon.
