It’s always fun when we get new rom-coms both in streaming and the theaters. Even if they don’t entirely work I like to see more content coming out in the genre and more risks being taken on different projects. So today let’s talk about 2 of the recently released films: Irish Wish and French Girl.
IRISH WISH
First up we have the new comedy starring Lindsay Lohan entitled Irish Wish. This is the second time Lohan has worked with Michael and Janeen Damien. The first time being 2022’s Falling for Christmas. In both movies the team capture a comedic energy that hails back to the old age of screwball romantic comedies. I can see why some critics say these movies are too silly or unrealistic but that is decidedly missing the point of this type of comedy.
In Irish Wish we have Lohan playing Maddie an editor who wants to become a writer but she has her heart set on marrying an author named Paul Kennedy who has taken her editing and writing skills for granted. When she is in Ireland for his wedding to her best friend she makes a wish that she is marrying him instead which when it comes true causes all kind of pandemonium.
Meanwhile Ed Speleers plays a photographer named James who meet-cutes it with Maddie before the alternate reality and who she is actually supposed to be with.
Like I said, what makes something like Irish Wish work is how it embraces its screwball comedy roots. We have Lohan diving into convertible cars and doing flips around Ireland. We have weddings being interrupted and over-the-top chases and races. It makes for a very amusing and enjoyable 2 hours of television and it doesn’t hurt that Speleers and Lohan have terrific chemistry.
My only qualm with the movie is they make it seem like her proposing instead of Paul in the alternate dimension is a huge red flag. It’s perfectly acceptable for the woman to propose these days so they probably should have gone with something else. Also Jane Seymour is used strangely as Lohan’s Mother.
Still I had fun with Irish Wish and look forward to what Janeen, Michael and Lindsay have in store for us next.
6 out of 10
Smile Worthy
FRENCH GIRL
While screwball comedies are a type of romantic comedy I typically enjoy supposedly elevated rom-coms like French Girl are decidedly not. The problem with movies like this is it attempts to tell a more complex or realistic love story but in so doing it ends up unpleasant with a lead couple we aren’t even rooting for- or at least I wasn’t.
French Girl tells the story of a schleppy teacher Gordon (Zach Braff) who is in love with a French-Canadian chef named Sophie (Evelyne Brochu.) When she goes back to Quebec to test with her former flame Ruby (Vanessa Hudgens) Gordon is riddled with all kinds of insecurities and jealousy and the whole thing is tedious and unpleasant.
So much of the conflict between Gordon and Sophie could be resolved by a simple conversation but instead they immediately start making out on the waterbed. Sophie ends up having more chemistry with Ruby but they are never really shown outside of a work setting which makes their interactions awkward.
They try to have some slapstick with Gordon and Sophie’s dead grandma but none of it lands and he becomes more needy and unlikable as the movie progresses. You honestly have no idea what Sophie sees in this sad sack guy.
In the end French Girl felt long, drawn out and just not very romantic or exciting. it’s a shame because it had potential but it goes unrealized.
4 out of 10
Frown Worthy
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