Streaming platforms like Netflix are always ever-expanding. Within a vast array of content vying for our attention, it’s refreshing to stumble upon smaller, heartwarming movies that can be a tad bit sentimental.
The Miracle Club, currently holding its ground as the fifth-ranked film on Netflix US’s top ten films list between March 25th to 31st, 2024, is one such discovery. Despite some criticisms for its lack of a strong plot and predictability, this film, led by a stellar cast of well-loved and renowned actors, has managed to charm its way to the top.
Directed by Thaddeus O’Sullivan and based on Jimmy Smallhorne’s story, The Miracle Club boasts a cast that reads like a who’s who of acting royalty. Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, Laura Linney, and Stephen Rea headline this tale of love, loss, and redemption.
At its core, The Miracle Club is a drama that centres around Chrissie (Laura Linney). A woman in her 50s, Chrissie finds herself returning to her home in Ireland for her estranged mother’s funeral after years spent abroad. However, her journey home becomes far more than a mere farewell to her past as she becomes involved in the lives of her cousin, a friend of her mother’s, and a younger woman from the neighbourhood.
The catalyst for their shared adventure is a pilgrimage to Lourdes, a journey primarily undertaken for the benefit of the younger woman’s son, a mute child whose medical condition defies diagnosis. Chrissie, honouring her mother’s dying wish, joins this motley crew on their quest for divine intervention. With each step closer to Lourdes, they are forced to confront the ghosts of their pasts and reconcile with the choices that have shaped their lives.
Watching Kathy Bates and Maggie Smith as seasoned matriarchs is comforting, even forgoing the setting and tone of the project. The two acting heavyweights are so vital to an otherwise somewhat middling production that they can be seen as the best thing about it. However, the combination of the two beloved actors would be the best thing about most movies.
If you’re hoping for a divisive, polarising or in any way hard-hitting movie, then move along quietly. Ultimately, The Miracle Club is formulaic, even saccharine in parts, perhaps. But, if like thousands of other Netflix users, you find yourself scrolling through Netflix in search of something cosy, The Miracle Club could turn out to be charmingly enjoyable.
You can watch The Miracle Club on Netflix and check out the trailer here:
