Finnegan’s Foursome

There are a lot of things in life I don’t understand, especially why people love certain things. One of those things is golf. I tried playing as a kid, and it just never clicked. Honestly, the sport itself has never really connected with me. For those who love it, I wish I could feel what you feel, but I would rather watch grass grow than sit through a golf tournament.

Now, make a great golf movie, and I’m completely in. So when I saw that one of my favorite filmmakers from the ’90s, Edward Burns, was making a new movie, I was immediately intrigued. And if you couldn’t tell from the title, golf plays a pretty significant role.

Every year in Ireland, the Finnegan family holds a tournament called Finnegan’s Foursome, a competition between a father, his two sons, and a grandson. Every year, the father, a former professional golfer, comes out on top and makes sure everyone knows exactly who the best player is.

This year, Freddy (Edward Burns) has had enough and decides he’s done with the tradition. But his older brother Teddy (Brian D’Arcy James) convinces him to come back. Along with Frankie (Brian Muller), Freddy’s son, the group travels to Ireland to compete in this year’s Finnegan’s Foursome.

Once they arrive, tragedy strikes when Teddy and Freddy’s father passes away on the course. The story then jumps ahead a year, where we learn their father made them promise to continue the tradition while spreading his ashes at some of his favorite places. Taking his place in the tournament is Marie (Erica Hernandez), who becomes the first woman to join the family tradition.

What follows is a series of competitive golf matches, as everyone fights to add their name to the trophy while also dealing with family tensions. In the process, the game they all love brings them closer together than ever before.

Written and directed by Edward Burns, Finnegan’s Foursome feels like spending a day with friends on a golf course. This is a movie made by someone who loves golf, for people who love golf. And in that respect, it succeeds. Burns celebrates the traditions of the game and captures why people become so passionate about it in the first place.

As someone who has never really connected with golf, I have to admit the movie almost convinced me to give it another try. Almost. But then the film’s biggest flaw reminded me why the sport has never completely clicked with me.

Finnegan’s Foursome has a lot of warmth, and while it hits par more often than not, it’s the bogeys that keep it from becoming something truly special. The biggest issue is that the movie sometimes feels unfocused. It doesn’t spend enough time on what is easily its strongest element: the relationship between the two brothers. Instead, it gets caught up in the details of the game itself.

The 122-minute runtime also works against it, especially for a film where the emotional stakes never feel quite as high as they should. At times, it feels like the movie spends too much time in the rough.

That said, there is still plenty to enjoy about spending time with the Finnegans. Burns delivers a sincere and pleasant story about family, tradition, and the things that bring people together. Add in the beautiful Irish locations, and you can clearly see what Burns was aiming for. His love for the game comes through in every frame, and even if you don’t share that same passion, it’s hard not to appreciate the affection behind it.

Ultimately, Finnegan’s Foursome delivers something familiar and comfortable. It may not be a hole-in-one, but it’s still an enjoyable round at the movies.

Brian Taylor

Member of the North Texas Film Critics Association, and lover of all things Cinema