The Closer You Get (2000)

Irish lads send an ad to the Miami Herald inviting fit and enticing women, between the ages of 20 and 21, to live in their isolated Donegal village. The whole town knows about the ad, and ... See full summary »

Director:

Aileen Ritchie

Writers:

Herbie Wave (story), William Ivory (screenplay)

Stars:

Ian Hart, Sean McGinley, Niamh Cusack

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Hart	...	Kieran O'Donnell
Sean McGinley	...	Ian O'Donnell
Niamh Cusack	...	Kate O'Leary
Ruth McCabe	...	Mary Mulligan
Ewan Stewart	...	Pat O'Leary
Pat Shortt	...	Ollie Doyle
Cathleen Bradley	...	Siobhan
Sean McDonagh	...	Sean Mulligan
Risteard Cooper	...	Father Hubert Mallone
Maureen O'Brien	...	Dollie Doyle
Pat Laffan	...	Giovanni
Britta Smith	...	Mrs. Duncannon
Joan Sheehy	...	Joan
Patricia Martin	...	Mrs. Lock
Dessie Gallagher	...	Mickey

Storyline

Irish lads send an ad to the Miami Herald inviting fit and enticing women, between the ages of 20 and 21, to live in their isolated Donegal village. The whole town knows about the ad, and it sharpens everyone's sense of the opportunities for happiness already at hand. Kate, a publican with a young daughter, is separating from her husband and catches the eye of a bachelor sheep farmer. Kieran the butcher realizes that his assistant Siobhan is comely, and then he discovers she's fiery as well. Ollie sends off for Dutch skin magazines that the village postmistress won't release to him. The men, and women, find counsel in their movie-loving priest. Will anyone answer the ad?

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Plot Keywords:

village | butcher | bachelor | priest | irish | 

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Taglines:

It's hard to see what's right in front of your eyes when there's so much more to look at.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief language and some sexual material

Details

Country:

UK Ireland

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 September 2000 (UK)

Also Known As:

American Women

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£101,051 (UK) (8 September 2000)

Gross:

ESP 63,243,621 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Redwave Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Ollie sets his tool chest down outside Mary's store. Then he picks it up and opens the door to enter. The next shot - from inside - shows him entering without the chest. The chest is not seen again.

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Quotes

Siobhan: For 90% of a given day, you're adjustin' your bollocks... scratchin' your bollocks... or otherwise playin' with your bollocks!

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Connections

Features 10 (1979)

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Soundtracks

"Horny"
Written by Mousse T. / Errol Rennella
Performed by Render Masikverlag GMBH/Edition Merg
Licensed courtesy of Render Music (London) Limited
Courtesy of AMPM/Universal Island Records Limited
By kind permission of Peppermint JAM GmbH
Polymedia Film & TV, a Universal Music Company
Courtesy of American
by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Enchanting Irish Comedy

This is a quaint and charming little comedy about life and love in rural northwestern Ireland. The question remains, how many rural Irish comedies can we watch before the material starts to get stale. The story begins with the single men of this little town complaining that the women are substandard and there are no marriage prospects. After downing far too many pints, they decide to place an advertisement in the Miami Herald to see if they can induce some American women to come to Ireland to the big town dance. When the townswomen get wind of the scheme, they invite some Spanish fishermen to the same dance. The result is a succession of comical situations where everyone makes fools of themselves in anticipation of the big day. The net result of all this is the lesson Dorothy learned when she left Kansas; that when you are looking for your heart's desire, you don't have to look any further than your own backyard.

Aileen Ritchie's directorial debut was marked by some nice photography of well-selected locations and an alluring portrayal of the local color and appeal. The characters all seemed very genuine and unaffected; the way country folks generally are regardless of national origin. The scenes leading up to the dance work well, but the film bogs down after the dance as the tone changes from mirthful to dramatic.

The acting was generally good with a couple of standouts. Ian Hart stole the show as Kieran the headstrong town butcher. He was simultaneously affable and obnoxious. His character's complete obliviousness to how ridiculous he was gave Hart ample opportunity to become a laugh magnet. Niahm Cusack was also enchanting as Kate, mixing mischievousness with romantic appeal to create a delightful character.

I rated this film a 7/10. It is very light fare, silly enough that it will get a chuckle or two out of almost everyone.