The Problem with People

This comedy is perfect for a Sunday afternoon - quite enjoyable, actually. The landscapes and atmosphere that Ireland or Scotland have to offer are just my thing. The film includes a few scenes that brought a genuine smile to my face, like when Ciaran arrives at the station to pick up Barry in a car just like Onslow's from Keeping Up Appearances.

One of the main characters is played by an actor for whom I have a great deal of nostalgia because I grew up watching films and TV series featuring him - I'm talking about Colm Meaney. I still remember him from MacGyver, Star Trek, and a few other films.

This plot seemed for the first half hour or so to have great potential to do something new with an Irish diaspora theme. The actors and their direction were fine. That's what drew me in. The initial twist which flips the rich Irish-American/working class Irish national trope, rather nicely from its usual trajectory draws one in further. But the film then utterly fails to avoid the pitfalls of sentimentality, cliché, identitarian box-ticking and worse of all, half-arsed comedy script writing. And how the producers managed to find mediocre Irish music for the soundtrack is beyond me. Great Irish music is accessible everywhere! In the end, an utterly dreadful cockup of a promising premise.

I've always liked Paul Reiser and also Colm Meaney. This film brings the two together in Ireland with a compelling plot and interesting characters. Irish humor is a favorite of mine, likely due to growing up around an Irish grandfather who never passed up a chance to inject some humor into any situation! The only issue with the film is the inclusion of the obviously required gay/lesbian element near the end of the film. It was totally unnecessary and awkward, and it was obvious that it was added because of the expected requirement to add this DEI propaganda to everything that comes out of the entertainment industry. Thankfully, it was near the end of the film and as such did not have a bearing on the quality of the movie.

The first hour of gentle comedy "The Problem With People" does a good job restoring some of the recently lost trademark charm to Irish cinema, but then the main premise of Paul Reiser & Wally Marzano-Lesnevich's screenplay kicks in and it collapses into utter tosh. To honour dad Des Keogh's dying wish, Colm Meaney tries healing a generations old family rift by hosting American cousin Reiser (who he's never met) in his remote Irish town - which goes well over that first hour (even under Chris Cottam's basic direction) before the descent into silly guff. For maximum enjoyment watch the first hour with an Irish whisky in hand, then sleep through all the forgettable tripe.

Well, there were some twists and turns......some not my cup of tea....... Focus, I feel, is that compromise to solve arguments can be an especially helpful reminder in these especially challenging days.

Have been a fan of a Paul's work and Colm's (from his days of Star Trek next generation). Things can get so out of hand with arguments and sometimes can be difficult to find a way where both parties are satisfied.

The movie a nice reminder to remember that both parties have very passionate issues sometimes. Even if you just watch the movie for the scenery in Ireland, it's worth it.

Greener than green.