Irish Jam
Encyclopedia
Irish Jam is a 2006
comedy film
starring Eddie Griffin
. The plot centred around an African American
who wins an Irish public house
in a raffle, and has to save the village from the clutches of an evil landlord. Despite the bulk of the film being set in Ireland
it was not filmed there, nor were the actors Irish
, but English
.
The film was poorly received in the UK
. In its review of the DVD release, Empire
called it a "worst possible Eddie Murphy knock-off" and questioned why they still had an evil aristocratic English landlord in 2006, noting it was filmed in Cornwall
because "presumably, any attempts to mount stereotypes this broad in actual Ireland would lead to kneecappings and punishment-beatings".
The worst reviews and popularity of all were in fact in Ireland. Many Irish
critics and viewers disapproved of the movie because it portrayed the Irish people inaccurately as "old, white, unintelligent, with no fashion sense of any kind". The film also presented Ireland as unadvanced in technology and architecture. One critic said, "Ireland hasn't looked like this in a hundred years, which was during the famine."
With:
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
starring Eddie Griffin
Eddie Griffin
Edward James "Eddie" Griffin, Jr. is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his sitcom, Malcolm & Eddie along with co-star, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and his role in the 2002 comedy film Undercover Brother as the film’s title character.-Early life:Griffin was born in Kansas City,...
. The plot centred around an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
who wins an Irish public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in a raffle, and has to save the village from the clutches of an evil landlord. Despite the bulk of the film being set in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
it was not filmed there, nor were the actors Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, but English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
.
The film was poorly received in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In its review of the DVD release, Empire
Empire (magazine)
Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
called it a "worst possible Eddie Murphy knock-off" and questioned why they still had an evil aristocratic English landlord in 2006, noting it was filmed in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
because "presumably, any attempts to mount stereotypes this broad in actual Ireland would lead to kneecappings and punishment-beatings".
The worst reviews and popularity of all were in fact in Ireland. Many Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
critics and viewers disapproved of the movie because it portrayed the Irish people inaccurately as "old, white, unintelligent, with no fashion sense of any kind". The film also presented Ireland as unadvanced in technology and architecture. One critic said, "Ireland hasn't looked like this in a hundred years, which was during the famine."
Cast
Starring:- Eddie GriffinEddie GriffinEdward James "Eddie" Griffin, Jr. is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his sitcom, Malcolm & Eddie along with co-star, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and his role in the 2002 comedy film Undercover Brother as the film’s title character.-Early life:Griffin was born in Kansas City,...
as Jimmy Winston "Da Jam" - Anna FrielAnna FrielAnna Louise Friel is an English actress. She rose to fame in the UK as Beth Jordache on the Channel 4 soap Brookside.-Early life:...
as Maureen Duffy - Kevin R. McNallyKevin McNallyKevin McNally is an English actor who has worked in theatre and radio extensively as well as in film and television.-Life and career:...
as Lord Hailstock - Tom GeorgesonTom GeorgesonTom Georgeson is a British actor, known for his television and film work. His most notable credits have been supporting parts in Between The Lines and in three dramas by Alan Bleasdale; Boys from the Blackstuff Scully and G.B.H....
as Father James Duffy - Dudley SuttonDudley Sutton-Life:He served in the RAF as a mechanic before enrolling in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from which he was later expelled.Known for his eccentricity, he became a cult figure after playing a gay biker in The Leather Boys . He married American actress Marjorie Steele in 1961; she had previously...
as Pat Duffy - Tallulah Pitt-Brown as Kathleen Duffy
- Tony MaudsleyTony MaudsleyTony Maudsley is a British film actor who was cast as Grawp in the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. His career started when he landed a role in the film A Life for a Life in 1998 where he played the part of Stefan Kiszko to much acclaim...
as Brian McNulty - Roger Ashton-GriffithsRoger Ashton-GriffithsRoger Ashton-Griffiths is a British character actor, screenwriter and film director.He graduated from Lancaster University and the University of East London , and began his career as a singer with English National Opera at the London Coliseum.He has appeared in numerous high-profile films,...
as Tom Flannery - Marion O'Dwyer as Donna
- Vass Anderson as Mr. Pettikreep
- Petey PabloPetey PabloMoses Mortimer Barrett III , known by the stage name Petey Pablo, is an American rapper from Greenville, North Carolina.-Biography:...
as Jimmy's street pot customer - Mo'Nique as "Psycho"
With:
- Angus BarnettAngus BarnettAngus Barnett is an English actor known for his repeated roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and the British ITV series Dead Man Weds...
as Milos O'Shea - James BradshawJames Bradshaw (actor)James Bradshaw, born 20 March 1976 in Stamford, Lincolnshire in England, is a British actor best known for playing Gordon Grimley in the popular Granada TV series The Grimleys, which ran for three series from 1999...
as Malachy McNulty - Ray Callaghan as Doc Murphy
- Christopher Dunne as Michael O'Malley
- Nevin Finegan as Sean McNulty
- Togo IgawaTogo Igawa, born in Tokyo on 26 September 1946, is a Japanese actor who works primarily in British films and television.In recent years he has had roles in major motion pictures such as Revolver, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Last Samurai, and Sunshine...
as Mr. Suzuki - Cathy MurphyCathy MurphyCathy Murphy is a British actress who studied at the Sylvia Young Theatre School. She played the role of Lorna in 1991, a love interest of Mark Fowler in soap opera EastEnders. In 2005 she returned to play the recurring role of Trisha Taylor. She had earlier played the ongoing role of Cheryl...
as Dora - Justin Sharp as Mocking village youth