Love of the Irish

Another strong on-location production from Hallmark. The movies shot somewhere exotic rather than in a Canadian city filling in are always much more atmospheric.

The Irish countryside is arguably as big a star as Shenae Grimes-Beech, Stephen Hagan and "The West Wing" alum Moira Kelly are. It's stunning, and the overhead shots of rolling hills, ancient ruins and rugged cliffs, especially, show it off perfectly. Makes you want to visit the Emerald Isle.

The story? Well, formulaic as these Hallmark movies often are, but also pleasant. There's the main love story and a secondary one, which is where Moira Kelly's character comes into things.

Come for the Irish scenery and culture, stay for the charming romance.

"Love of the Irish" delivers a sweet, predictable romance that fans of Hallmark-style movies will appreciate. Set in the stunning Irish countryside, the story explores themes of love and family, with emotional highlights like a touching birth mother reunion and a dance studio discovery. Moira Kelly offers nostalgic charm, and Shenae Grimes-Beech is a solid lead, though the overall cast and dialogue are unremarkable. The beautiful County Cork setting and small-town world add visual appeal and authenticity. While engaging and satisfying, the movie lacks originality, sticking to a formulaic script. It's enjoyable for a casual watch but unlikely to leave a lasting impression beyond its heartwarming moments.

Plot (25%) The plot is engaging, with heartwarming and refreshing storylines. Score: 25% Characters (20%) The characters are heartwarming and nice, but the repeated use of "bestie" felt cringey for adult women. Score: 18% Direction (15%) The pacing was well-done, but the tone felt overly gloomy at times. Score: 12% Visuals (15%) The visuals are stunning, proving live-action can deliver impressive imagery. Score: 15% Music (10%) The song "Eye of the Irish" felt unnecessary and out of place. Score: 5% Theme (10%) The theme of luck is intriguing, and Fiona's change of fortune was satisfying. Score: 7% Entertainment Value (5%) Surprisingly more entertaining than expected. Score: 4% Overall: 86% Better than expected, a strong start to 2025's romance movie lineup.

I enjoyed this Hallmark movie, as I love Ireland and love watching any movie filmed there. I do get annoyed at the cliche Hallmark formats but this one had a bit of a different angle. Moira Kelly was great and I haven't seen her in anything since the Cutting Edge, so of course, she looked older to me. The one thing that bothered me the most was the ending. The final scene was just abruptly cut off, as if the editors knew they were running out of time, and just edited it mid-scene. Otherwise, I enjoyed the rest of the movie for what it was-a heartfelt, fun romp looking for love and luck in Ireland.

7.1 stars.

This story is nestled right in there with 1000 other Hallmark stories. It doesn't stand out particularly, there is nothing substantial in the story that makes me think I want to return to watch this anytime soon.

The acting is pretty good, nice to see a return of Moira Kelly. The setting is in Ireland, there's a lot of scenery, and it feels cold, it is during the cold season after all.

It's a story of a woman who is down on her luck, so to speak. She works odd jobs while trying to land a prominent role in any major ballet show. She and her mother live in New York. Her mother (Kelly) has never known her real mother, all she knows is that her real mother lives in Ireland. Mother and daughter set out on a journey to Ireland. Most of the movie is in Ireland. It's somewhat fun, partially interesting, a bit entertaining, but nothing spectacular.