WILD MOUNTAIN THYME (2020) – Fancy a slow burn romance in the countryside?

Wild Mountain Thyme is a light weight romantic comedy that tells an unlikely story about two star-crossed lovers who live in farms next to each other in Ireland. The story starts when the two are just kids and reaches its inevitable happy ending when they are adults, after spending what feels like an eternity getting the two lovers to make the move.

This is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea as the pace is slow and the laughs are few and low key. in fact nothing much seems to happen in the whole running time and even the conclusion is foregone. So what’s in it for the viewer to carry on watching this? For me, the casting here is aptly served which somehow makes the watching addictive despite the slow burn. Emily Blunt plays a woman unlike any I have seen before while Jamie Dornan is quietly hilarious as the dim witted suiter. They are surrounded by a strong supporting cast playing quiky but likeable characters including a standout supporting performance by Christopher Walken.

The film was directed and written by John Patrick Shanley which is in turn based on the play “Outside Mullingar” that he wrote. John Patrick Shanley is best known for his work in Moonstruck which won him an Oscar for Best Screenplay in 1988, as well as Doubt in 2009. I doubt that Wild Mountain Thyme will bring him similar accolades even though this is probably a labour of love for him. The title is taken off the lyrics of a Irish country song that it a local favourite. For me, it is a decent piece of work but not something that I will remember for long. I was hoping for something a little more upbeat to help fight the boredom of being stuck in the house.