The trailer of a movie based in Ireland has gone viral and generated much hilarity and confusion among the Irish, due to what has been perceived as the dodgy "Oirish" accents of its lead characters, strangely old-fashioned clothing and an abundance of Irish clichés. Wild Atlantic Thyme was shot in Crossmolina in Mayo, and is written and directed by John Patrick Shanley and based on his play, Outside Mullingar.
Revolving around a romance and a family dispute over a farm, the movie stars English actress Emily Blunt, US stars Christopher Walken and Jon Hamm, and Jamie Dornan, who is from Northern Ireland. Aside from the accents and strange phrasing, the Aran cardigans, crocheted shawls and old traditional-style fishing boats known as coracles suggest the movie is set in 1940s Ireland. However, when the scene moves to New York and Blunt's character, Rosemary Muldoon, discusses freezing her eggs, it is clear that it is actually set in modern times.
There’s fashion police
Grammar police
We even have airport police
Is there such a thing as accent police?
If so, somebody better call ‘em.
On the upside, Ireland looks nice. pic.twitter.com/lHrR5cWlwq— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) November 10, 2020
Dublin Airport is among those poking fun at the movie, tweeting: "There’s fashion police. Grammar police. We even have airport police. Is there such a thing as accent police? If so, somebody better call ‘em. On the upside, Ireland looks nice." The National Leprechaun Museum of Ireland, which celebrates Irish myth and folklore, joined in the fun, saying self-deprecatingly, "Even we think this is a bit much."
However, the Irish Embassy in the US came to the movie's defence, saying, "To be fair, Irish accents are hard (we struggle with them at times). But otherwise #WildMountainThyme looks great." On the positive side, while the romantic comedy may be filled with clichés, it also shows the landscape of Ireland at its best and will undoubtedly make viewers fall in love with the country. And although the reactions of Irish people range from being bemused to irritated, some have spoken out in defence of the movie, which is scheduled for release in December.
Writing in the Irish Independent, journalist Tanya Sweeney defended the movie, saying that it is worth noting the difference between Irish and Irish-Americans. "They still have shillelaghs and Tam-o-Shanters in their lexicon," she pointed out. "I find their unfettered, uncomplicated romance for the Old Country charming, even if the reality of our day-to-day existence is a world away from it. And this, ultimately, is a film for them."
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