Beloved rom-com queen Lindsay Lohan is back! She stars as Maddie, an editor working with the dreamy Irish author Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos). At his book launch event, Maddie longs to tell Paul how she really feels about him…but before she can, he meets her best friend Emma (Elizabeth Tan). Well, we all know how the rom-com trope goes: sparks fly between Paul & Emma, months zoom by, and a wedding date in Ireland is set.
Maddie is heartbroken but puts on a brave face for the happy couple. When she arrives in Ireland for the big day, she finds herself lost and confused—and definitely not interested in the dashing English man named James (Ed Speelers) she bumps into at the airport (wink wink). So when she stumbles across a magical wishing chair—accompanied by a very insistent yet whimsical patron saint (Dawn Bradfield) to explain the rules of it—Maddie finds herself wishing she was the one marrying Paul. However, like with every bit of folklore magic, Maddie is about to learn the meaning of the phrase: Be careful what you wish for…
Irish Wish is a fun rom-com romp in the Irish countryside that explores what happens when you mess with fate. Lindsay Lohan shines as our heroine, bringing her trademark charm and comedic timing to deliver a character to root for through every giggle-worthy mishap. Ed Speelers is endearing as James, who challenges Maddie at every turn with plenty of chemistry. And Alexander Vlahos has a ball playing a slightly pompous author who often takes the brunt of the slapstick comedy peppered throughout. Sherin has a slightly different take, “Irish Wish is like flying to Ireland and getting stuck at the airport. You meet fun people, you see some sights, and you’re almost but not quite there.”
While some of the questionable Irish accents and references may get a chuckle out of locals, the supporting cast are colorful and keep everything lighthearted. Ireland itself is a gorgeous backdrop, with its natural beauty and folklore magic lending to the sparkle of the story.
The writing has some wobbles and the rom-com stereotypes are all here, cementing the film in the standard straight-to-streaming league—but it remains enjoyable throughout and the magical twist adds extra whimsy. Having grown up reading Enid Blyton’s The Wishing Chair stories, Irish Wish explores a playful folklore trope I haven’t seen in a while. It adds a fresh take on whether there truly is one perfect person for everyone, no matter what timeline you find yourself in (and if you’re a romantic at heart, Irish Wish has the answer).
Watch Irish Wish on Netflix now.
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