‘Tis the Season to Be Irish movie review

MOVIE TITLE: ‘Tis the Season to Be Irish

RATING: TV-G

LENGTH: 1 hour 30 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: B-

SPONSOR of Today’s movie review: on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3B6G3TX

IN A NUTSHELL:

The story is about an American real estate “flipper” who buys a cottage in Ireland sight unseen (always a good idea, eh?). It’s no surprise that the property is in complete disrepair, under control of the Irish realtor who is also the preservationist and in charge of local laws and almost everything else in town.

The film was directed by Lesley Demetriades. Screenwriting credits go to Joie Botkin.

THINGS I LIKED:

The leading lady’s name is Rose, which happens to be a symbol of Ireland. Cute. She’s played by Fiona Gubelmann. She has such a pretty smile.
The movie poster made me lean in to see if the leading man was Patrick Dempsey because it sure looked like him. It’s not. Instead, it’s the Hallmark honey, Eoin Macken.
Other main cast members include the lovely Tara Egan Langley, and Flavia Watson, who has a beautiful voice.
We get to see some gorgeous cinematography and views of Ireland.
Ireland is stunning. I finally got to visit the Emerald Isle last summer for the first time! I have ancestors from there, so visiting had been on my Bucket List for years. In the movie, we learn about the country and its endearing traditions and wise sayings.
An adorable sheep named “Lambchop” wanders around the town for fun. Charming. The sheep’s name in real life is “Barbra Streislamb.”
We learn about “fairy trees” and the legend that those who decorate theirs get one wish. What would YOU wish for?
A cute calendar is gifted to the leading lady. It’s a clever way to show us the passage of time.
There’s a funny conversation between the romantic leads about watching romantic comedies. She wants to watch Die Hard, which is a movie that some people insist qualifies as a Christmas movie, while others heatedly debate it is not. What do YOU think?
We learn about several Irish foods. When I was in Ireland last summer, we ate some delicious food in a bunch of quaint Irish pubs.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Eoin Macken’s character is kind of a lying jerk. I don’t know why the leading lady would have fallen for him so fast.
There are several inaccuracies. For example, we see a car driving on the right side of the road in the beginning and then on the left later. Apparently, mistletoe rarely grows in Ireland, yet we see it on many trees.
We meet another character who has been rennovating a house for many months, yet the leading lady is able to do it in a completely unrealistic 3 weeks.
There are some awkward kisses. Sadly, I didn’t feel the chemistry between the couple.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored.
There’s a widow who talks about spreading her deceased husband’s ashes
No profanity. Yay!

THEMES:

Magic
Real Estate
Ireland
Loneliness
Taking the plunge into a relationship
Preserving legacy
Finding your true home

FUNNY LINES:

“What brings you here?” – Rose Walsh (Fiona Gubelmann) “The Celts.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“We have this magical thing in Ireland…what’s it called? A search engine. I Googled you, Rose.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“What brought you to town?” – Sandy (Tara Egan Langley) “Poor decision making.” – Rose Walsh (Fiona Gubelmann
“It was already abandoned.” – Rose Walsh (Fiona Gubelmann) “Loved but untended.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“Irish you a merry Christmas.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“So, plum pudding has no plums, and mincemeat has no meat?” – Rose Walsh (Fiona Gubelmann “Always read the fine print.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“Ah, yes…the very common 2-week escrow.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Ireland is where wishes come true.” – Rose Walsh (Fiona Gubelmann
“You’re in Dunclair now; there’s no such thing as a stranger here.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“Some things are out of our control.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“In Ireland, the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“Food always tastes better with friends.” – Sandy (Tara Egan Langley)
“It doesn’t hurt to believe.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“I live for the scenic route.” – Rose Walsh (Fiona Gubelmann
“Home is the priority for me.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“A kiss has healing powers.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“Relationships are all about finding someone who wants the same things as you.” – Rose Walsh (Fiona Gubelmann
“Legacy is as constant as change.” – Sean (Eoin Macken)
“We must adventure in order to know where we truly belong.” – Mary O’Loughlin
“The only failure is believing there’s only one way to do things.” – Rose Walsh (Fiona Gubelmann)