Anthony (Jamie Dornan) and Rosemary (Emily Blunt) have grown up on neighbouring farms and whilst Rosemary has had a romantic eye on Anthony since she was a young girl, Anthony is oblivious. Although there is also the complication of a land dispute and who will inherit their farms when their parents die. 

Anthony’s father Tony (Christopher Walken) is our narrator for the film. Telling us the ludicrous story of how Rosemary’s father bought the piece of land that provides access to Tony’s farm when as young children Anthony pushed Rosemary over. Tony is also considering selling his farm to his American nephew Adam (Jon Hamm) because Anthony is not cut out for it. 

Written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, Wild Mountain Thyme is an adaptation of his play Outside Mullingar. 

There are times when watching films that I wonder what on Earth I have got myself into and Wild Mountain Thyme is one of them. Thanks to the double edged sword of cinemas being shut it took me multiple efforts to finish this film. I hated every moment of it. Being able to turn it off and walk away probably made it worse when a cinema would have at least made me immersed in the story. 

Ultimately I think maybe I missed the point. This is not the romantic comedy advertised. This is a drama in the main. Although I am not entirely sure what it’s point was. There is grieving for lost parents, there is incessant talking about misinterpretations as children of their roles in the world and no romantic link or chemistry between Anthony and Rosemary. 

Every scene is drenched in cliche Irish fairy tale, although it’s seemingly set in the present day. The dialogue is overly dramatic and the plot never seems to move forward. And of course you will be entirely preoccupied by Walken and Blunt’s Irish brogue. 

Wild Mountain Thyme is not romantic, it is not comedic and it is not dramatic. It is 102 minutes of utter dross despite being written, directed and starring huge talent.