Irish Wish Review
The rom com renaissance is happening before our eyes and audiences are more than happy to indulge in the heartwarming yet predictable genre. In Netflix’s newest rom com Irish Wish, which premiered March 15, Lindsay Lohan leads a likable ensemble cast in a film that centers on love but self-love as well.
Directed by Janeen Damian and written by Kirsten Hansen, Lohan plays book editor Maddie Kelly in Irish Wish and is headed to a book release party for her client Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos) at the start of the film. Paul is a handsome and charming Irish man who just put out his best book yet in large part to Maddie. She is also secretly in love with him and after some ushering from her mom, played Jane Seymour, Maddie decides this is the night to tell Paul her true feelings. Very early on in the movie we learn Maddie has issues speaking up for herself and that’s a concept that plays out throughout the movie and becomes vital in the final act.
During the book release party, Maddie’s best friends Emma (Elizabeth Tan) and Heather (Ayesha Curry) are in attendance. Unfortunately for Maddie, before she can express her feelings for Paul, Emma and he connect. Fast forward a few months later and Maddie is headed to Ireland to be a bridesmaid in the wedding for Paul and Emma.
At the airport in Ireland, Maddie has a meet-cute with an attractive nature photographer named James (Ed Speleers). The pair have a natural chemistry, but Maddie is still convinced that Paul is the love of her life. When Maddie has a moment to herself, she sits upon a magical chair in the stunning Ireland landscape and makes a wish to Saint Brigid (Dawn Bradfield) to marry Paul Kennedy. They say his full name a lot in this movie. Awakening from what seemed like a dream, Maddie finds herself in a reality where she is the bride to be and set to marry Paul in a few days.
The rest of the film follows the standard rom com formula. There are physical humor moments like Lindsay’s character literally falling into the man she’s supposed to be with, witty banter from the ensemble highlighted by Ayesha Curry’s character and Aidan Jordan who played Father Callahan, and the sweet yet cliché moments that make us love rom coms in the first place.
One major theme from Irish Wish is to not be afraid to speak up for yourself. Throughout the film Maddie struggled with finding her voice with people asserting their own agenda before her best interest. By the end she’s able to stand up for herself. Another theme is realizing the idea of what you think is supposed to happen in your life isn’t always what’s best. You must allow yourself to be open to the possibilities of fate stepping in and taking you places better than what you expected.
The chemistry between Lindsay and Ed makes more sense than hers with Alexander which adds a layer to the story because even in the alternative reality viewers can see how mismatched Maddie and Paul are even if it takes Maddie some time to realize that for herself. The Ireland backdrop added to the magical element of the film and Lindsay shines on screen bringing her charming demeanor fans have loved since her childhood roles. There are no major twists and turns in Irish Wish. The ending will be exactly how you would think a film like this would end, but the exciting part is watching how it unfolds.
Irish Wish is streaming now on Netflix.
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Amber Dover is a multimedia journalist with over a decade writing about pop culture. Cat mom with a deep love of horror, you can follow Amber at @Glambergirlblog on Instagram and X.