Lindsay Lohan marked her first leading role in nearly ten years with the Netflix Christmas movie, "Falling for Christmas". Now, she's teamed up again with director Janeen Damian for "Irish Wish", another romantic comedy amped up with a hint of fantasy and a sprinkling of Irish good fortune.
Lohan portrays Maddie Kelly, a book editor secretly in love with her client, best-selling romance writer Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos), who's more style than substance. Maddie discloses her feelings to her mother, Rosemary (Jane Seymour), but plans to give Paul a piece of her heart shatter the instant Paul meets her best friend Emma (Elizabeth Tan) and sparks fly.
Fast forward three months, and wedding plans in Ireland are underway. A mix-up with luggage at the airport leads Maddie to cross paths with a witty English photographer, James (Ed Speleers). Roping James into being the wedding photographer, Maddie starts questioning her feelings for Paul, and a wish she'd made on a magical Irish wishing chair may not have been what she truly wanted.
The film might not break new ground narratively, but Lohan's charisma carries it. Her comedic timing, natural chemistry with Speleers, and the warm Irish setting combine to make "Irish Wish" a pleasant diversion, if not a memorable one. The sprawling Irish landscapes add to the film's allure, making viewers feel as though they've stepped into a land where love conquers all.
The movie does, however, fall short with its supporting cast. Vlahos is brilliant as the dense Paul, but Seymour is underutilized. Emma's character, played by Tan, offers some touching moments, but her relationship with Paul isn't as well-developed as it could be.
Despite these shortcomings, "Irish Wish" can still entertain and charm viewers as it unfolds, much like the paperback romance stories Maddie edits. Although Lohan’s past media scrutiny was unfair, if she's found enjoyment and a safe space to create with Damian, and we receive one of these Netflix gems every few years, then we're winning.
