After the release of the original ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ trailer starring Jamie Dornan and Emily Blunt, fans made their opinions known. The comedy trio, Foil Arms and Hog rereleased their parody of Irish films, ‘An Irish Film’.
The parody pokes fun at the overly-emphasised Irish accents by predominantly non-Irish actors and the stereotypical plotline through the characters of Seamus MacGillycuddy and Shile NiConchuirachach-MacMurchu-NiChonaill-NiDeBharra (this name took four minutes to type). Through comedic cross-dressing, satirical inclusion of the Catholic Church as well as bad acting that wasn’t far off the acting of the official trailer, Foil Arms and Hog successfully capture the essence of the original Wild Mountain Thyme trailer and everything that’s wrong with it.
Needless to say, Twitter critics of the Shanley trailer became immediate fans of its parody, with some even wishing the parody was made into a film instead, while others were confused as to which trailer was the actual parody (not exactly a good look for the original). As one Twitter user wrote of the parody, “Just watched a hilarious spoof trailer for a parody of an “Oirish” film where even the Irish actors’ Irish accents are unconvincing.”
Others even commented on the similarities between the two as one user wrote: “Uncanny dialogue as well #WildMountainThyme. Sheila McSomethingyirishlongname: ‘It’s raining and I’m sad’. Rosemary: ‘How menny days do we have till da sun shines’”. Ultimately, I think we can all agree that the parody was slightly more palatable than its botched counterpart.
With the consistent wearing of farmer hats (Cillian Murphy may be the only Irish man alive that could wear this hat well), the evidently simulated background and imitations of violent scenes, the trailer does well in calling out the John Patrick Shanley version for its overworked acting and general substandard plot. The inclusion of the ‘Sad lilting Irish Singing’ and of religious tension that are only too familiar from Irish film plots, the trailer essentially culminates everything stereotypical about Irish films and emphasises it even further. Foil Arms and Hog ultimately act on what we Irish do best when offended, take the mick out of it.
Ciara Farrell – Film and TV Writer
