For people in Flint and many other communities, water impurities are no laughing matter. Millions are estimated to have to consume contaminated tap water.
But for “Love in Kilnerry,” a slight new film from a first-time filmmaker, it’s kind of cute. In the case of the tiny town of Kilnerry (once meant to be in Ireland but now in an obscure corner of New England), a byproduct of one of the ingredients of a local dog shampoo manufacturer — P-172 — has the after effect of making its drinkers more amorous, an Environmental Protection Agency officials tells the townspeople (in a town meeting for some reason held in a church).
This causes some slight consternation at first and a bit of panic in elder residents who think everyone will be turned into predators. One woman faints at the news. Then everybody starts to pair off and take a shine to one another, enhancing their lives.
All except for the local sheriff, who buys a bunch of bottled water and avoids all the changes coming directly from the faucet. Daniel Keith, who plays the local lawman who apparently has enough power to switch the town meeting to the church, and thinks he can shut down a dating site, is the most familiar face in the film — he’s been in theater productions and popped up in TV shows from “Blacklist” to “Blindspot” to “Person of Interest.”
He’s also the love interest of a ditzy local shopkeep (Kathy Searle) and son of a crusty town postman (Roger Hendricks Simon) who suddenly becomes suave and takes up dancing and a girlfriend (Sybil Lines) who is the very widow tho initially freaked at the news of a libido-enhancing additive.