FINNEGAN’S FOURSOME — Golf Lovers Rejoice!

Review by Steve Barton II

Edward Burns is a name that some people may be familiar with and no, it’s not that one old guy from The Simpsons. Edward has found himself in the director’s chair once again, chasing the shocking success of his feature debut The Brother’s McMullen back in 1995. While Burns has created his own brand of films centered around all the things that Ed surely holds dear to his heart like being Irish, catholic and also being a hopeless romantic. While Ed has created quite a sizable directorial catalog, he’s more known for his acting roles with notable roles in Saving Private Ryan, The Holiday and 27 Dresses. In Burns’ new film Finnegan’s Foursome, Edward plays Freddy, one of the sons of a golf obsessed man who ends up having a heart attack and dying while playing a game with his sons and grandson. To honor their father’s final wishes, the rival brothers and each of their children take a trip to Ireland to spread their father/grandfather’s ashes and bond over the game of golf.


Finnegan’s Foursome has plenty of golf sequences, jargon-filled jokes and references to past pros that any golf enthusiast will surely enjoy. Anyone watching who isn’t a golf fan or familiar with the sport may pass out quicker than if they were watching an actual PGA broadcast. The entire DNA of Finnegan’s Foursome is embodied by golf, including the complicated relationships between this family. Throughout this dense two hour runtime, nearly half of that (at least) has our characters on a greenway smack talking about who will win their family championship trophy. We do escape the fairway for a few moments when we get to see the Irish countryside or a quaint Irish pub, but we return to golf quickly so don’t blink too much or you’ll miss it.

The cast is one of the highlights of Finnegan’s Foursome, especially with the brotherly chemistry between Burns and James as they work through their grief. Their banter has an air of authenticity that anyone with a sibling can appreciate and relate to, especially with their competitive, yet playful nature. While that relationship does work, the writing of these characters and the remainder of the cast is surface level and they’re practically fill-in-the-blank cut-outs of characters that we’ve seen a million times. Whether it’s the grandson who is chasing after his rockstar dream and refusing to grow up or his father struggling with writer’s block, Burns chooses the easiest routes for each character and makes it predictable and boring to watch.


Finnegan’s Foursome is an Adam Sandler vacation comedy, but swapping out the poop jokes for small familial squabbles and golf balls. The characters are fairly one-note and have the bare minimum development, but their chemistry as a rivalrous family is perfect. There is a musical sequence where the characters sing in a traditional Irish pub and it’s easily the most heartfelt moment in the entire film. Finnegan’s Foursome is a love letter to Ireland and learning your familial ancestry and finding connection with the people closest to you. If spending two hours on a golf course while a family teases one another while working through their small dramas, look no further than Finnegan’s Foursome! 


Finnegan’s Foursome will be available to rent or buy on digital platforms starting June 19th! 


Rating: 3/5