American Women (2000) User Reviews

Enchanting Irish Comedy

[FlickJunkie-2 · 7/10 · 29 September 2000]

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.

The story knows no extreme highs or lows, but offers plenty of laughter

[philip_vanderveken · 7/10 · 29 August 2005]

Even though my most favorite movies are thrillers and drama's, I must say that from time to time I can really look forward to a comedy. Life is more than misery or thrills alone, there should be time for laughter as well, so why should my choice of movies be any different? But when looking for comedies, I do have certain standards. I hate toilet humor and the story may be silly, but still has to be of a decent quality. If I'm honest, than I must say that I don't find that too often. The latest (often American) comedies are all full of those dreaded jokes about pee, vomit, sperm,... and too often I end up very disappointed in them. That's also the reason why I prefer British comedies. I like their, often very dry, humor and their jokes don't necessarily have to be about some kind of bodily function.

"The Closer You Get" is situated in an isolated village in Ireland. Because the girls in their village aren't to their taste, a bunch of young man send an ad to the Miami Herald, inviting fit and enticing American women between the ages of 20 and 21, to come to the local dance. But when the girls they all hoped for don't come and the local girls seem to have more success with men from outside the village, the local men start to realize that some of their 'own' girls might not be that bad after all. Others however chose different solutions like ordering a lot of porn...

Like so often with comedies, I'm sure that there are many people who don't like it all that much. Humor is one of the most difficult parts of the entertainment business and not everybody has the same taste. Personally I had a really good laugh with this movie, but when I see some other comments on this website, it's getting very clear to me that not everybody thinks about it like that. I guess this is a comedy that will appeal most to the people who love the typical British humor, so if you aren't into that kind of jokes, you better don't give this movie a try. If you are looking for a very special, deep or touching story, than this isn't the best movie for you either. The story is quite simple, but efficient. It doesn't really know any extreme highs or lows, but it works. The characters are believable, the situations are still recognizable...

All in all this is a very decent comedy with some good acting and an OK story. But most important is the amount of laughter that it offers and for me that was more than enough. I had a really good time with this movie and that's why I give it a 7.5/10.

A lovely feelgood movie

[Chris_Docker · 6/10 · 11 September 2000]

A beautiful and worthy film, set in a small and fairly isolated village in Ireland, yet, like the village and its inhabitants, the film is also, sadly, rather forgettable. The people living in this tiny community, whilst optimistic, charismatic and full of life, also realize the dead-end nature of their situation. The men long to travel and meet beautiful women in exotic places. They put an ad in an American publication hoping to attract women to join them for a local dance, but the women fare rather better by attracting the local Spanish fishermen.

The movie could easily have degenerated into Hollywood-style unbelievability but it resists the temptation. The characters, their lives, and how they develop are convincing and moving. The title refers to missing what is important (in love and life) when it is under your nose.

A lovely feelgood movie.

Pleasant, but nothing new

[rollo-7 · 6/10 · 16 February 2000]

Gentle Celtic productions are very much in vogue at the moment. What with Waking Ned, Ballykissangel and the late Hamish Macbeth. The Closer You Get is a gentle tragi-comedy with a heart-warming if unsurprising ending. All the performances are very strong, particularly from the ever-magnificent Ian Hart and Niamh Cusack, but you can't help feeling that you've seen it all before. If you're feeling in need of a pick-me-up on a Saturday afternoon, then go see, but otherwise wait for the next series of Ballykissangel!

Cute and funny

[toms-3 · 11 May 2000]

I liked it...kind of Waking Ned Devine part two..not heavy but worth while if you're into Irish films. The accents are sometimes hard for Americans to understand but not a big problem. Maybe a little predictable but good character developement, and there are some characters!!

A nice feel good movie, a reel good kack!

[Marcellana · 6/10 · 21 April 2001]

This is a film that is very easy to relate to for somebody who grew up living in a small Australian town. Overall, the film is quite a clever play on a simple story line, and it makes you wonder why this theme wasn't explored or performed years ago. The only character in the film who seems oddly out of place is "Pat" (Ewan Stewart). You have to ask why a former Scottish Football Star would end up running a pub in an out of the way Irish fishing village? Again the character "Pat" provides the only sad note in the film as he splits from his screen wife as a result of his filandering ways. His wife played by Niamh Cussack, plays a lead in the film, but is not without some blame for the split in the marriage. Through the film there is the suggestion of romantic interest in another of the lead characters.

Other notable moments in the film that tickled my funny bone are when "Ollie" describes his desire to local Post Mistress to, "take a woman to the celestial heavens and worship her", and those "Church Bells". Overall, I had a really good kack when I saw this film in the cinema. Comedy films aren't generally meant to make you think, they are more meant to entertain. "American Women" or "The Closer You Get" definately entertains. I've certainly seen a lot worse low budget comedies, and for that matter, I've certainly seen some real shockers that have been made on a high budget. The "Closer You Get" is definately good value for money.

Well meaning but oh so trite.

[Bullingdon · 6/10 · 8 February 2000]

I saw "The Closer You Get" at a school screening recently and I must say that it didn't surprise or challenge me. I wasn't expecting "Citizen Cane" in Ireland but I was hoping for some genuine moments of humanity and of course some silly banter. But the comic moments seemed perfunctory and forced and the dramatic moments didn't quite have the gravity that they needed. The story takes place in a small sea side town in Ireland where the male inhabitants decide to invite beautiful women from America over to their town so they can get some foreign variety in their lives. The women get a hold of this news and cleverly play off the men's futile effort.

Sadly "The Closer You Get" only a few minutes to introduce the plot then we have to sit through over an hour and a half for the bland execution. I really wanted to get to know these colorful characters better in the first act so that I could follow them through this silly plot.

It's official now. We have this Irish small town comedy genre on our hands and there's no end in sight. It was fresh at first but come on people we need some variety in plot structure by now. I guess these Irish films are more sincere and have their hearts in all the right places, which is more than I can say for those pesky teen flicks. But when you've watched "The Commitments," "The Matchmaker," "The Full Monty," and "Waking Ned Divine," there innocuous charm quickly becomes annoying. I give "The Closer You Get" a six out of ten.

Jon Monsarrat review: slow-paced but amusing

[johnnymonsarrat · 5/10 · 7 May 2002]

I'm an action movie buff, so mostly I like films that blow up. I like comedies too, but I expect a fast pace and not too much arty melodrama. "The Closer You Get" (called "American Women" in the USA) is an amusing and somewhat slow-paced Irish comedy that I found an acceptable crossover film to rent with my SO, who doesn't like action films. The plot wraps up satisfyingly.

Like many Irish films I've seen, it's charming and has plenty of small town culture. I would, however, recommend "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain" (which is really Welsch), or "The Full Monty" first, which are similar but better.

I'll give "The Closer You Get" a ho-hum but not exactly bad 5 out of 10.

Delightfully Irish

[rps-2 · 8/10 · 12 April 2001]

This is a wonderfully sensitive and human film, well scripted, well acted, superbly directed. And so what if the women come out as the winners. It's a delightful story of sexual awakening, done in a charming, cheeky Irish style. Provocative yet tasteful. Funny yet serious. One of those rare films in which everything works!

Minor Entertainment

[dromasca · 7/10 · 27 May 2002]

There is nothing spectacular in this small movie. In a small Irish village, the guys try to break the limits of their boredom and celibacy, by putting an ad for brides in an American paper. While the American brides almost never show up, the boys learn a few lessons in life, and especially that happiness might be at much closer reach than it appears. No surprises, good acting, discrete humor, there is nothing unpleasant in this film. This is minor entertainment, but by no means a film to avoid.

Unfunny.

[doire · 5/10 · 19 July 2001]

A very dissapointing film that began with so much promise. The premise was certainly there but the talent wastn´t!. Maybe the director thought we would all be laughing so much that we wouldn´t realise how awful the film was. O.K., we had some beautiful Irish scenery and some potentially wonderful characters, but the movie just didn´t gel after the first twenty minutes or so. These characters were so isolated and desperate for women that they advertised in an American newspaper for female company in their village. One guy is so frustrated that he sends off to Amsterdam for what appears to be a crateload of adult material to educate himself in the ways of the world. Nothing wrong with that, but not to know all the intricacies of the birds and the bees at his age!. And even then it wastn´t even remotely funny. I could hark on about the awfulness of this movie but I won´t bother. It really doesn´t merit comment.

A Great Warm Movie

[mark-kilgore · 10/10 · 16 July 2006]

This movie is one of few that I have watched many many times. I love the cast and story. The characters are everyday folk that seem very real and familiar. Its a great look at the rural northwest Irish coast. I wish more movies of this type were made more often, so that people from other countries could see how things around the world are different and yet the same. If you have not seen this film I say you must if you really like movies. It was not released on DVD that I know of in the United States, but can be purchased from the UK in region two code also I think the only VHS versions were PAL. If you can't find it e-mail me at [e-mail] and I will try and get you a copy.

Nothing wrong with this formula

[Jimmycat · 7/10 · 24 January 2003]

I loved this movie. I've seen all the little English and Irish movies mentioned in previous user comments, and liked them all. Yeah, movies like this stereotype Irish people, but in a sweet way. What's wrong with spending an hour and a half with stereotypes that you like? (and don't get me wrong - I like to see Americans stereotyped in sweet movies too). It was a very pleasant 90 minutes in my life. I liked all the characters but especially Kieran, who was good-looking (especially before his first appointment with Giovanni) and lovable in his oafishness.

And I'm not some kind of "idjit" - I'm a smart and cosmopolitan American who likes to kick back with some of "the old country," to get away from the hectic modern life. I don't see these people's lives as being bleak. After living all my life in shallow, depersonalized, over-commercialized, over-technologized suburban McCalifornia, I'd like to move somewhere like that. Nowhere I've lived would the postmistress care enough to withhold mail she thought wouldn't be good for you. I've never experienced an entire group of people not related to me knowing my private business. Yeah, I'm sure it would be intrusive and obnoxious, but what a nice change. It's all a matter of perspective.

(Edit in 2016): I needed to relax one night and watched this movie again. Still very charming, although it definitely was weird watching Professor Qu-Qu-Quirrell being cute!

An history about ordinary people

[super_plinio · 8/10 · 10 September 2002]

This movie represents the reality of the villages in Ireland. A reality that is very similar to my country, Galicia, the northwest part of Spain and a land that, surprisingly, is very similar in nature to Ireland.

The movie talks about the ambitions and hopes of ordinary people in a village and the idea to go abroad and know the world. But the hopes are most of the times unrealistic and your dreams don´t let you see that what you have closer is what you need.

May be the worst part is the very typical representation of the Spanish sailors (singing "flamenco" with guitars). Most of the sailors of Spain are from the north, a part in which the popular music is not based in the famous "flamenco".

Good comments.

[mcdougall · 10/10 · 4 February 2000]

We saw the cast/crew preview in Dublin for this film. We were pleasantly surprised at the standard of this film. It was a well condensed story of a village on the west coast of Ireland.(taking into account a lot was tongue in cheek). An amusing and well acted film. Credit for which must go to the director and the full cast and crew. I must give a special mention to the unknown child actors Deborah Barnett, and Michael McDougall (this child was the only cast member who was actually from the Rosses area of Donegal where the film was located.) The film itself showed the beautiful scenery in the area, it was light hearted with a touch of romance and jealousy.

We would highly recommend an early viewing.

Never judge a film by it's cover.

[gstrooper51 · 9/10 · 16 March 2004]

I received this VHS as a gift from my boyfriend. I had no idea how much I'd enjoy it. Beautiful scenery, excellent acting, and humor around every corner. After an accidental viewing of "10" at the local film society meeting, a group of small town Irishmen submit an ad to the Miami Herald for American Women to visit County Donegal with a view to marriage. After waiting and waiting, they finally realize that what they desire has been there all along. I can't help but really fall for the story of Ian and Kate, A middle-aged bachelor and a divorcee who both feel they're too old for love. Most of the film's humor comes from Kieran, the bleach-blonde butcher with a mouth the size of Antarctica. This picture was more than I expected. I've seen it so many times, and each time I fall in love all over again.

Excellent and charming indie romantic comedy.

[ErikaBierman · 8/10 · 7 May 2013]

Beautifully filmed with quaint Irish seaside views. SPOILERS: A delightful film in which the fish are out of water in their own pond. The men in a small Irish village cannot see their own perfect mates right before their eyes. It takes both the promise and threat of exotic newcomers coming to the village to make the men realize that what they wanted was right there in front of them whole time. A pleasant mix of character archetypes coupled with familiar independent UK tropes blend into a witty cocktail that will have you smiling throughout the film. A fun and charming film with plenty of character that will satisfy your yearning for quirky and wonderful couples themes. This is a great date movie.

Just love it!

[Auddis · 10/10 · 2 August 2018]

This movie is a movie I always come back to! It's funny and so relatable, coming from a small town myself! The music is wonderful and absolutely ties the movie together! Just love this film!!

Disappointing

[Robin Kelly · 18 September 2000]

It's an interesting premise but the execution is poor. This is a well-made bad film, which is quite frustrating.

If I had to single out anything it's the story. Sometimes a very poor predictable plot will be successful (witness the Full Monty from the same producer) but this time it is devoid of charm and flops badly.

I don't need formulaic traditional three-act structures but the characters need to be solid and true. The three main relationships at the centre of the film offer conflict but no drama because the characters are under-developed and so their actions are unconvincing.

Ideally the accents would be more accessible for an international audience while still being authentic. I say accents but it's really only one actor I had a problem with.

There were a couple of laugh out loud moments in the film and it generated a few smiles but I was surprised to see it described as a comedy on IMDB. I honestly don't think it was written as one.

I'm afraid I can't think of a single reason to see this film and I've really tried to, honestly.

Bo Dereck in "10" shown in church accidentally fires up urges in the boys of a small Irish town.

[nedwood-2 · 10/10 · 3 December 2007]

The eternal story of the misunderstandings between men and women. A priest in a small Irish town tries to attract a larger audience by showing movies and accidentally shows one depicting what all men think is the perfect woman (Bo Derrick in 10) instead of the Ten Commandments. The sight of Bo awakens the urges in the local men who think that they are being deprived of the kind of women they think they want. They conspire to advertise for American women (between the ages of 20 and 21) with the "credentials" of Bo and there is an hilarious vigilance at the bus stop to wait for the American women to arrive. These shenanigans immediately raises the ire of the local girls who invent their own way to get stimulation by inviting some passing Spanish sailors to a dance. Needless to say they don't last long. Perfect example of "I can but you can't". As the boys continue to wait at the bus stop each day they begin to realise that their local women are becoming more attractive. All men should see this movie if they have a need to understand what they are doing wrong when women give them the cold shoulder. More often than not it's of their own making and communication can break down because the woman might not be able to express herself adequately as in this wonderful, funny, heartwarming movie.

Good perfomances, simple funny story and a good laugh

[inishowen · 10/10 · 2 March 2000]

I think that this film achieved what it meant to do. It isn't a blockbuster - simply a great laugh, with a slightly far fetched story line and engaging characters.

The story is a simple one; the lack of available female companionship for the local lads of a rural Irish village and the twist comes when the ladies in the village add their own "twist" to the tale. The lesson isn't mindblowing ... but its obvious that the love interest both sexes search for is right under their own noses.

The comedy is rapid and continuous, not too taxing on the brain. I laughed from soon after the opening sequences finished. Some funny performances to watch out for. Niamh Cusacks performance and her interaction with her daughter, played by Deborah Barnett is touching and both performances are excellent. I think the latter is a local girl and I'm sure she has a future in the business, in fact both children in the film have natural talent.

I laughed, I enjoyed myself and I didnt take it seriously. Go see.

excellent laugh

[kalle-11 · 3 March 2000]

This is a thoroughly enjoyable film from start to finish. There are enough comedic set-pieces to keep even the most hardened cynics happy. Detractors will of course level criticism at the simplistic plot and at some of the loosely sketched out characters, however as a piece of entertaining madness it totally delivers. Special praise has to be given to Sean McDonagh and Ian Hart who create between them one of the most realistic and hilarious drunken scenes ever seen on film. Recommended.

Predictable fun like the other fox flix films

[Bernie4444 · 10/10 · 7 October 2023]

Fox flix brought us such memorable with their unique sense of humor as: The Full Monty The impostors Waking Ned Devine

Ther are no recognizable actors in this movie: Risteard Cooper as Father Hubert Mallone Ian Hart as Kieran O'Donnell Not necessarily any "American" women.

In this presentation "American women," aka "The Closer You Get" we have bored single bachelors who live at the end of the world in rural Ireland. Realizing that their prospects of meeting interesting women are few, they come to a scheme of advertising for American women in the Miami Harold.

Little do they suspect that the local women intercept their communiqué and have counter plans of their own. Now the fun begins.

Kiss me I'm Irish!

[Dermot-6 · 18 September 2000]

This film should not be viewed by Irish people. It portrays them as thick, ignorant people who couldn't catch a cold. Basically it's about a bunch of lads in County Donegal who want to find some women, so they advertise in the Miami Herald for American women "to share in the outdoor life.... Indoor facilities also available".

Just about sat through it in the cinema. It's Ok but that's all the praise I'm giving it. Good luck to yis.

The (Un)Luck of the Irish....

[daver-4 · 1 March 2000]

...to be portrayed in these quaint comedies as eccentric small town dreamers. It worked in Hear My Song (still the Irish comedy that rules in my book), The Commitments (OK, that was not set in a small town, but you get the point). Waking Ned Devine was pleasant but familiar and slight. And now The Closer You Get, which rehashes all of the "silly Irish people" elements and combines it with an idea straight out of The Full Monty (a British film about middle aged men deciding to do a strip tease to boost their morale). The message of The Full Monty was be youself and be happy with what you have. A point that The Closer You Get hammers into its viewers. I cannot actively dislike any Irish film, because even if you have a trite story and underdeveloped characters, you can always look at the scenery! I guess if we want hard-edged Irish films, we have to continue to seek out Neil Jordan's movies. I was disappointed.