Our "Irish Wish" is for more trashy Netflix rom-coms. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re exploring why Netflix’s “Irish Wish” is a stellar example of the trashy rom-com we can’t get enough of.
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00:00 "They call that a wishing chair, but you have to do it right."
00:03 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're exploring why Netflix's Irish Wish is a stellar example
00:09 of the trashy rom-com we can't get enough of.
00:12 Since we are discussing plot points, this is your spoiler warning.
00:15 "Where are you going?"
00:17 "To write my own story."
00:22 In March 2024, Netflix hoped some of the luck of the Irish would rub off on them with their
00:27 latest rom-com, Irish Wish.
00:29 It stars Lindsay Lohan as Maddie, a book editor harboring a secret crush on Paul Kennedy,
00:34 an author she works with, played by Alexander Vlahos.
00:36 "I don't know what to say.
00:38 I feel exactly the same way."
00:41 "Really?
00:42 That's wonderful.
00:43 So, will you work with me on my next book?"
00:48 While she musters up the courage to tell him how she feels, he meets her best friend Emma.
00:53 They hit it off, and the next thing we know, we're off to Ireland for their wedding.
00:57 Once there, Maddie meets this kooky, mysterious woman who answers her wish to take her friend's
01:02 place as the bride-to-be.
01:03 "They call that a wishing chair, but you have to do it right.
01:07 So sit down, close your eyes, and make your wish."
01:12 All of a sudden, Maddie finds herself living someone else's life.
01:16 And to top it off, she unexpectedly finds herself falling for the charismatic nature
01:20 photographer James Thomas, portrayed by Ed Spalier.
01:23 Sounds cheesy and predictable already?
01:25 Yes, indeed.
01:26 Will we be hooked from the moment we hit play?
01:29 You betcha.
01:30 "Well, when you ask her for something, she may not give you what you want, but she'll
01:36 always give you what you need.
01:39 Oh, that's my cue."
01:42 Netflix's rom-coms are often criticized for being so predictable that they could have
01:46 been written by some algorithm.
01:48 And guess what?
01:49 They're not entirely wrong.
01:50 "Paul Kennedy's one of the best-selling authors in the UK."
01:53 "Well, they sell a lot of fish and chips in the UK, too.
01:55 Doesn't mean they're any good."
01:57 "Well, he seems to be doing very well without your approval."
02:01 Remember the golden era of rom-coms from the mid-to-late '80s to the 2000s?
02:05 We were treated to unforgettable pairings like Julia Roberts with Richard Gere, Sandra
02:09 Bullock with Ryan Reynolds, Kate Hudson with Matthew McConaughey, and Meg Ryan with Billy
02:14 Crystal.
02:15 But suddenly, rom-coms fell out of favor.
02:17 After all, yeah, we get it.
02:19 Chance encounters, unlikely romances, overblown gestures of love, yada yada yada.
02:25 In short, we were largely over it.
02:27 "We spent a day together.
02:28 I admit, it was a beautiful day, filled with dramatic vistas and romantic rain.
02:34 But that doesn't give you the right to question my life choices."
02:37 The pandemic seemed to seal the deal, with the next big release being whatever was streaming
02:41 on whichever platform you had access to.
02:43 But do you know who was keeping an eye on what we were watching?
02:46 Yep, Netflix.
02:48 They noticed that many of us — about 80 million, according to some sources — still
02:52 had a hunger for the genre, and decided it was time to dust it off and give it a revival.
02:57 "Are you really happy with your wish?
03:00 Where are you going?
03:02 I love my wish!
03:04 Come back!
03:05 Please don't take it away!"
03:06 As many of us found ourselves stuck at home during global lockdowns, those classic Hallmark-style
03:11 rom-com plots suddenly didn't seem so tired anymore.
03:14 "I wish I was marrying Paul Kennedy.
03:19 Oh, well, that didn't work, didn't it?"
03:24 For about 90 minutes at a time, we were transported to picturesque settings and swept up in the
03:29 love lives of a new generation of rom-com stars.
03:32 We became as invested in their relationships as if they were our own friends gossiping
03:36 about their latest romantic escapades.
03:38 "Is it interesting?
03:39 What does that mean?"
03:40 "I guess opposites attract."
03:41 "Excuse me, Paul and I are not opposites."
03:47 What made these films particularly appealing was that they didn't demand much mental effort
03:51 from us.
03:52 We knew exactly who the main characters were, who would play the comical best friend, and
03:56 who would likely sweep in as the unlikely plot twist love interest.
04:00 The stories were predictable enough that you could probably play the quickest game of bingo
04:04 ever by counting the familiar tropes.
04:06 "My favorite author is Charles Dickens."
04:10 "That's right."
04:11 "Yay!"
04:12 "One point for the happy couple."
04:19 Irish Wish may not break new ground in the rom-com genre, but it thrives on its comforting
04:24 predictability.
04:25 From the beginning, it's clear that Paul's not Maddie's perfect match.
04:29 When she and James fight over a suitcase at baggage claim, we know this is the love story
04:34 we'll be rooting for.
04:35 "Look at the tag, you'll see."
04:36 "I don't need to look at the tag.
04:37 I know my own back.
04:38 So let go."
04:39 "I'm not letting go of my back."
04:40 "See, look, my favorite plaid skirt."
04:47 And when they find themselves spending a cozy evening at a local pub due to a storm, no
04:51 one's thinking, "Hey, we hope she makes it back in time to marry the man who's clearly
04:56 wrong for her."
04:57 "I'm getting married in two days."
04:58 "Alright.
04:59 Your drinks?"
05:00 It's not even the first time Lohan has starred in a film where she's had to
05:09 learn some big lesson to reverse a wish she wished she hadn't made.
05:13 Not a rom-com, but our point stands.
05:15 So we know how these things go.
05:16 So, yes, the writing can be cringe-worthy at times, and the abundance of cliches makes
05:21 us question if the script was generated by a computer program with a checklist of rom-com
05:26 tropes.
05:27 "You enjoying that?"
05:28 "Yes.
05:29 Have you read it?"
05:30 "Nope, don't need to."
05:31 "I barely made it through his last one."
05:33 If that's the case, romance writers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their jobs are safe
05:37 from AI takeover for now.
05:39 Still, that classic Irish charm wins us over.
05:43 We know it's gonna happen, and we know we're en route to a happy ending, but we're still
05:47 invested in seeing it play out.
05:49 "I'm planning on writing a book on the Cliffs of Moher.
05:51 Do you know them?"
05:53 "One of my favorite spots."
05:56 "Mine too."
05:58 "Huh."
05:59 "Maybe we could go there together sometime."
06:04 As we've seen with previous Netflix titles, star-billing can sometimes have more power
06:08 over quality.
06:09 When you have someone like Lindsay Lohan leading the cast, you can place her in any romantic
06:14 scenario with interchangeable love interests, and audiences will still be drawn to it, even
06:18 if the chemistry feels a bit off.
06:21 Irish Wish follows a familiar formula, but it has just enough charisma to make us root
06:25 for Maddie.
06:26 Heck, we even root for Paul and Emma.
06:28 "It just felt like we were supposed to be together in another life.
06:34 Maybe we would have been.
06:37 Just not this one."
06:38 If you want to trace the origins of romantic comedies, you might find yourself in Stratford
06:42 Upon Avon, peering over William Shakespeare's shoulder.
06:46 They've been a staple of entertainment ever since.
06:48 However, when we mention rom-coms, you probably imagine films like It Happened One Night,
06:54 Sleepless in Seattle, My Best Friend's Wedding, Pretty Woman, and so on.
06:58 Irish Wish embraces everything we adore about these movies.
07:01 The unlikely meet cue, the comedy of errors, the moment where you realize love has been
07:06 right in front of you all along, and finally, the big dramatic declaration of "I can't live
07:10 without you."
07:11 "I really have this gigantic favor to ask of you.
07:18 Choose me.
07:19 Marry me.
07:21 Let me make you happy."
07:22 However, unlike those classics, Irish Wish has to appeal to a modern audience that may
07:26 not necessarily buy into love at first sight and fate.
07:30 "It's alright.
07:31 You can tell me."
07:32 "Do you believe in fate?"
07:38 "Sometimes."
07:40 It taps into themes that resonate with today's audience, such as self-discovery and empowerment.
07:45 Maddie's journey starts with her chasing a guy, but ends up being about the pursuit of
07:48 happiness and fulfillment.
07:50 "That's not how a team works.
07:51 I'm afraid you're gonna have to fly solo on this one."
07:57 "Where are you going?"
08:00 "To write my own story."
08:02 It vaguely reminds us of Elle Woods' transformation in Legally Blonde.
08:06 "But if I'm going to be a partner in a law firm by the time I'm 30, I need a boyfriend
08:10 who's not such a complete bonehead."
08:15 Irish Wish recognizes that audiences no longer enjoy one-sided love stories written solely
08:20 for the plot.
08:21 "You seemed a little confused in there, like you and Paul didn't really know each other
08:24 that well."
08:25 "That's ridiculous.
08:27 Of course we know each other."
08:28 "Charles Dickens."
08:29 "Anybody can make a mistake."
08:31 As the story wraps up, Maddie realizes she shouldn't have interfered with her friend's
08:35 happiness and instead focuses on her own journey, both as a writer and in her relationship with
08:40 James.
08:41 As we say goodbye to them at the beautiful Cliffs of Moher, their future together remains
08:45 uncertain, and that's okay.
08:47 Marriage no longer guarantees a happy ending.
08:49 "What brings you to Ireland?"
08:50 "A wedding."
08:51 "Congratulations."
08:52 "Oh no, it's not mine.
08:53 It's my friend's."
08:54 "Maybe you'd be lucky enough to catch the bouquet."
08:55 "What makes you think I want to get married?"
08:56 "Nothing, it was a joke."
08:57 "Apparently a bad one."
09:04 Just like we once dreamed of finding love on the Empire State Building's observation
09:08 deck, now we understand that true romance takes time to develop, but it's worth the
09:13 wait.
09:14 As we mentioned earlier, Netflix uses data to grasp audience preferences.
09:17 "Well, what do you put into a contract for a real relationship?"
09:21 "Nothing.
09:22 You gotta trust."
09:25 With many of us joining in for Netflix's Summer of Love back in 2018, they're probably only
09:30 just at the beginning of their journey to understanding what audiences enjoy and what
09:34 we hope to get out of our viewing experiences.
09:36 "I'm not really sure I have anything to say right now."
09:39 "Well, everyone has something to say.
09:41 They just have to be brave enough to say it."
09:43 Irish Wish may not directly tackle representation, but it reflects a time when audiences are
09:48 hungry for better diversity in rom-coms.
09:51 While Netflix has made strides, this film shows there's still room for improvement.
09:55 Despite its far-fetched plots, we crave the escape they offer.
09:59 Whether it's a Disney princess movie or a classic rom-com, we love these stories for
10:03 their familiar comfort and promise of a happy ending.
10:06 "I thought I could use a little liquid courage before going in to face the masses."
10:10 "They're gonna love it.
10:11 It's a beautiful story."
10:12 "Well, I have you to thank for that."
10:15 In a world full of distractions (seriously, when was the last time you watched a movie
10:19 without simultaneously scrolling through your phone?)
10:22 Irish Wish strikes a perfect balance, requiring just the right amount of brainpower to enjoy
10:27 it.
10:28 "It's really magical in person."
10:29 "I said something in your voice, are you alright?"
10:32 "Yeah, I'm okay, but I can't help but think that things would be different if I'd just
10:36 taken your advice and told Paul how I felt."
10:39 It's refreshing to see Netflix recognizing that rom-coms are more than just fluffy chick
10:43 flicks, they're a welcome break from the complexities of real life.
10:46 "That it should be with someone you love, not just someone you wish for.
10:52 It should be with someone you find, or even someone who finds you."
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11:14 Irish Wish might not redefine the modern rom-com genre, but it ticks all the boxes we expect.
11:19 Sure, it's filled with cliches.
11:21 Take a shot for each one in the first 20 minutes, and you might forget you're even watching.
11:25 "I really wish you all the happiness in the world."
11:28 "I can't be happy without you.
11:31 I know this doesn't make sense right now, but I believe in my heart that we're meant
11:35 to be together."
11:36 But that's the beauty of it.
11:38 It's lighthearted, fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously.
11:41 While it may not win awards for its writing, it serves its purpose perfectly.
11:46 Sometimes we just need to escape from reality for a while, and Netflix offers us exactly
11:50 that.
11:51 "I wrote that book."
11:52 "No you didn't.
11:53 I wrote that book."
11:54 "There you have it."
11:59 What did you think of Irish Wish?
12:01 Let us know in the comments.
12:03 "Is it everything you imagined?
12:05 What, this?
12:06 All of this?"
12:07 Do you agree with our picks?
12:10 Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
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12:18 "I'm so excited to be here.
12:19 I'm so excited to be here."
12:20 "I'm so excited to be here."
12:21 "I'm so excited to be here."
12:21 "I'm so excited to be here."
12:22 "I'm so excited to be here."
12:22 "I'm so excited to be here."
12:27 [BLANK_AUDIO]