Another dose of Irish whimsy! This time its about a group of lovelorn lads
who plan to bring women and love to their shrinking Irish village on the
Donegal Coast. They therefore scheme to entice American beauties to their
annual village dance. [I really wonder what the Irish themselves think about
the current rash of quaint stories such as this? Ireland is prospering and
re-populating!]
Rachel Portman's score is fittingly full of Gaelic charm. The opening Title
music is quirky, comic and very Irish; sunny and bouncy even if the melody
is slight. The best of hers music is in the nostalgic glow and engaging lilt
of 'A New Look' and in the stand-out track of the album, 'There's A Suit'
a lovely dreamily romantic number for guitar that gently rocks its way along
like a lullaby, later adding fiddle and clarinet. What a pity that the atmosphere
is broken by the intrusion of up-beat folk material.
Most of Portman's tracks are engaged in the statement and development of
more comic material associated with the youths. This is awkward, bumbling,
galumphing, stuff is given to accordion, harmonica low woods and guitar.
As the score proceeds, this theme looses its rough edges more and more as
the boys' bid for romance proceeds.
The score is stiffened by a number of favourite pieces of source music including:
Louis Armstrong singing 'A Kiss to Build a Dream Upon'; Ricky Valence performing
'Tell Laura that I Love Her'; and Jackie Wilson singing 'I Get the Sweetest
Feeling'. 'At the Dance' and 'Black is the Colour (of his hair)' add local
Irish colour.
Mildly entertaining
Reviewer
Ian Lace
OST
