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Lindsay Lohan is undeniably experiencing a “Lohanaissance,” and we are living for it! Her recent stint in the Mean Girls musical, and the recent announcement of a long-awaited Freaky Friday sequel has fans are going wild. Now, the former Disney darling is back and better than ever. Lohan has now delivered to us a commendable performance as Maddie in her latest venture, Netflix’s Irish Wish.
The story follows Maddie, a soft-spoken and clumsy book editor. She who is secretly in love with the author of her latest project, Paul Kennedy, played by Alexander Vlahos (Merlin, Outlander). When Maddie tries to gain the courage to reveal her true feelings for him, he instead asks her to help him write his next novel. The twist? He ends up falling in love with one of her childhood best friends Emma, portrayed by Elizabeth Tan (Emily in Paris, Doctor Who) instead. Fast forward three months and Maddie finds herself attending their destination wedding in picturesque Ireland.
In an effort to avoid a third-wheel situation, Maddie sits on a wishing bench where the Catholic Saint Brigit mischievously appears. She grants her wish: to be the one marrying the man of her dreams, Paul. It is a wish that dramatically alters her reality, transforming her from bridesmaid to bride. However, the wrench in her perfect wish appears in the form of a random stranger she met at the airport. Enter the overly critical nature photographer, James Thomas played by Ed Steelers (You, Outlander). At first, James berates her about Kennedy’s earlier books and insults his (bur really her) writing. Maddie soon finds herself the bride in the story. But her soon-to-be mother-in-law hires James to be the photographer at Maddie’s wedding, leading to chaos when they are sent alone to scout wedding photo locations.
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Throughout this journey, every rom-com trope is thrown into the mix. It’s to the point where the audience could easily turn it into a drinking game based on the story’s predictable plot points. Getting caught in a romantic rainstorm and needing to spend the night away from her fiancé? Check. Random excuse for the forbidden pairing to dance intimately? Check. The couple gets left alone to visit beautiful vistas that the original partner doesn’t appreciate? Check. Car breaks down? Check. It’s as if the writers felt the need to throw in everything they had at this story to capture the quintessential “rom-com” vibe. After all, it is a genre that has seen a decline in prominence in modern cinema. The film’s reliance on formulaic plot points may leave some viewers wanting more depth and originality. But its picturesque portrayal of Ireland’s landscapes and heartfelt performances offer a compelling viewing experience.
After several cliche romantic moments pass between the two, they finally make their way back to Kennedy’s vast estate. However, the couple who is supposed to be getting married is put through several tests of true love. At the rehearsal dinner, Paul is asked several questions about Maddie, answering each one incorrectly. This is much to the satisfaction of James who relishes in the fact that he doesn’t seem to know her at all. When asked about her engagement, it turns out the impish Saint Brigit has been following Maddie in an effort to manipulate the entire situation seemingly for her own amusement. She conveniently gave Maddie no memories of how the couple actually came together and Maddie makes a fool of herself trying to answer. Amidst the romantic entanglements with James and the truths she learns at the rehearsal dinner, Maddie grapples with the realization that her idealized image of Paul may not align with reality. This internal conflict is further exacerbated by the meddling of Saint Brigit, whose whimsical interventions blur the lines between fantasy and reality.
Throughout the night, it is obvious that her best friend Emma, the original bride, is much better suited for Paul. The two are caught in flirtatious exchanges multiple times throughout the film. Maddie even catches them having a borderline romantic exchange. The next day, James confronts Maddie about their chemistry. But Maddie rejects his advances saying that Paul was her literal dream come true. Paul oversees this entire exchange and runs off confused. Maddie seems conflicted and confronts her friend Emma. Emma reveals to Maddie that she has always felt that she belonged with Paul. Instead of getting mad at the situation, Maddie hugs her friend and realizes that Emma truly belongs with Paul, and not her. As Maddie’s journey unfolds, she confronts uncomfortable truths about herself and her relationships. This culminates in a heartfelt revelation during the climactic wedding scene.
With the support of her friends and newfound clarity, Maddie learns to embrace her own agency and pursue genuine happiness, even if it means letting go of her preconceived notions of love and romance. Maddie shows up to her own wedding dramatically dressed in normal clothing, having taken off her wedding gown. She addresses the crowd and her fiancé Paul, apologizing for wasting everyone’s time. Maddie then reveals she is not in love with Paul, and he is not in love with her. She also apologizes to Paul who confronts her for having feelings for the photographer, and an all-out brawl between Paul and James ensues in the venue. James finally gets away and Maddie goes after him. Before he gets in his car, Maddie finally professes her feelings and kisses him. However, James rejects her this time and drives away. Distraught and heartbroken, Maddie gets in the car and returns to the Wishing bench. There, she desperately pleads for Saint Brigit to undo her wish. At first, Saint Brigit refuses stating that the wish was fully granted and disappears. Maddie sits down on the bench, closes her eyes, and pleas for the wish to be undone. A strong breeze engulfs her, and she snaps back to her original reality where she is the bridesmaid, not the bride.
The moral of the story: be careful what you wish for. She is relieved to learn that she is not marrying Paul and attends her best friend’s wedding. It’s then that she finally puts the unresolved feelings she had for Paul behind her. She begins to stand up for herself, rejecting Paul’s request to have her write the sequel to their last book without receiving credit. She runs off and finds James. But once again, Saint Brigit has meddled by keeping him in Ireland longer than he was supposed to be. The two go off to the Cliffs of Mohair and begin to spark their romance once again from the beginning. This marks a fresh start for the two.
This film has a lot going for it but falls into typical “low budget Netflix film” problems throughout. The narrative, while fun and borderline campy, is predictable and basic. So many characters are wasted in the film, including Maddie’s mother played by Jane Seymour and Maddie’s best friend Heather, played by Ayesha Curry. It’s their talents that are overshadowed by underdeveloped subplots that serve no other purpose to the narrative aside from occasional comic relief. The best friend trio of Maddie, Emma, and Heather have little to no chemistry when together on screen, and the same can be said between Maddie and Paul who she was supposed to be madly in love with. Maddie is a character we’ve all seen a thousand times before. She is a clumsy, accident-prone girl who secretly loves her best friend’s man. This character represents a new bit of range for Lohan who typically doesn’t play characters so different from her own personality and yet, she managed to do so pretty well. Lohan’s portrayal of Maddie demonstrates her versatility as an actress, albeit with occasional lapses in emotional resonance.
Overall, the film felt like an advertisement paid for by the Irish tourism board as a way to advertise Ireland as a top tourist destination. Irish Wish shines in its picturesque portrayal of Ireland’s landscapes, serving as a visual feast for audiences. Its romantic escapades and feel-good moments make it an ideal choice for a cozy night in or date night flick. The catholic themes and Irish setting also make this the perfect watch for Saint Patrick’s Day entertainment. In conclusion, Irish Wish may not fulfill every viewer’s wish for a groundbreaking cinematic experience, but it delivers an enjoyable escapade filled with love, laughter, and a touch of whimsy, anchored by Lohan’s captivating performance and the film’s enchanting depiction of Ireland’s beauty.
