IRISH WISH

US, 2024, 93 minutes, Colour.

Lindsay Lohan, Ed Speleers, Alexander Vlahos, Ayesha Curry, Elizabeth Tan, Jacinta Mulcahy, Jane Seymour, Matty McCabe, Maurice Burton.

Directed by Janeen Damian.

Not only an Irish wish, but I wish for all romantics. One might note that this film is probably very suitable for a PG-ish Girls Night Out (not a Guys Night Out at all). Or, given the streaming distribution, this is a Girls Night Out around a television screen.

In fact, this is also a “have your cake and eat it…” kind of film, except that the cake turns out not to be the final cake choice!

So, in the US, there is Mads (and a pleasant turn from Lindsay Lohan), editor, deeply in love with the author, Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos), she really responsible for the main writing of his successful novel, book signings, crowds of admirers… And, on the phone, her mother (Jane Seymour) urging her to express love for Paul. She doesn’t – and dismayed to find that one of her best friends clicks immediately with Paul and, before you know it, they are engaged, ready to go to Ireland, where he comes from, for the wedding, Mads only a maid of honour.

Off to Ireland and beautiful Irish scenery, the town and the pubs, the mansions of a wealthy family… But, on the way, a terrible mixup with her luggage and a clash with the photographer, James (Ed Speleers) and, having to take the bus after her luggage is lost, he in the seat beside her – and little skirmish of the battle of the sexes!

And here comes the wish, out in the fields, a traditional wishing stone, and a feisty unlikely St Brigid appearing and offering Mads her wish – to marry Paul Kennedy.

The photo of the engaged couple changes, Mads is now in it and it dawns on her that her wish is coming true, received by Paul’s family, Paul’s attentions, phone calls to her mother (who has more airport accidents than Mads), fittings for the dress, and a whole lot of awkward situations. And, in her bridal gown fitting, she glimpses and Brigid in the street, chases her, crashes into a car and falls into the lap of the driver – of course, James. The family is delighted because they are after a photographer for the wedding.

Of course, we know what is going to happen, but we want to see how it will really turn out – actually, quite a raucous wedding scene. We don’t know why Mads didn’t go out to the wishing seat earlier to re-wish but, eventually, she does, and St Brigid is more than mischievous again.

Happy ending – and true love and true wish fulfilment!