Small town foibles, misunderstandings and mayhem have long been a screen comedy staple. “Love in Kilnerry” follows that tradition as the fictional tiny coastal town of Kilnerry, New Hampshire becomes the bucolic setting for a good natured tale about how the denizens of the sleepy town learn to wake up and smell the roses.
Actor and director Daniel Keith adapts this screen version from his own play and stars as the local sheriff and straight man to the more eccentric characters in the community. While it’s likely that some of the silliness and geriatric jokes played better live on stage, there’s still has plenty of good cheer to go around in this modest film shot in Portsmouth, NH, and benefitting from the authenticity of a cozy New England locale.
When the mostly aging Kilnerry residents gather for their town meeting, they’re told by a nervous young representative from the Environmental Protection Agency that there’s a substance in their water supply that’s likely to increase their libidos. There’s panic and resistance at first, some fear for their heath; some worry that they’ll commit sinful acts. But soon many, from the crusty mailman who dusts off his dancing shoes to the local priest who sheds some inhibitions to the blustery mayor who discovers autumnal romance with the local gift shop owner, Kilnerry’s own begin to see a positive uptick in their mundane lives. The performers are likable and easy to watch and the film’s carpe diem message is a sweet and welcome one.