ReelBob: ‘Love in Kilnerry’ ★★★

By Bob Bloom

“Love in Kilnerry” is a sweet little confection about a town whose residents shed their inhibitions.

The movie, written by, co-directed and starring Daniel Keith, is a pleasant blend of romanticism and broad comedy.

The people, most of whom are elderly, panic when an EPA representative tells them that an ingredient, P172, added to the town’s chemical plant, has a side effect of dramatically increasing their libido.

Of course, it doesn’t take long before people are hooking up.

This includes the mayor and the town gossip, the local mailman and a widow and others.

The only person who seems immune is Keith’s Sheriff Gary O’Reilly. He is appalled by the increased sexual activity.

Plus, the local priest, Father O’Dell, has decided that to be closer to God he should be a nudist.

Also affected is Nessa, Kathy Searle, a local store owner who has a crush on O’Reilly. Despite her various attempts to attract his attention, the lawman acts disinterested or oblivious to her feelings.

While the movie is charming, it also has a disconnect. It lacks a sense of place. Kilnerry seems to be a fishing town somewhere in New England. Yet, most of the residents have Irish-sounding names, so it’s possible that Keith’s original premise was set somewhere in Ireland.

Keith’s sheriff is the movie’s straight man, the party pooper who believes he must protect the townsfolk from themselves.

Alert moviegoers easily can figure out where the story is headed, but that should not deter you from enjoying “Love in Kilnerry.

It is harmless fun, populated with likeable characters — including Tony Triano as the mayor, Sheila Stasack as the gossip, Roger Hendricks Simon as the mailman and Sybil Lines, as the faith-minded widow he woos and James Patrick Nelson as the clergyman.

Keith’s script includes a few double entendres to spice up the movie. Overall, though, the film takes a healthy and positive approach to sex.

The main lesson of “Love in Kilnerry” seems to be that people need an outside agent or excuse to reveal their true selves and act on their impulses.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.

LOVE IN KILNERRY
3 stars out of 4
Not rated, sexual references, nudity, language