A One Mann’s Movies review of “Four Mothers” (2025).
Shown as part of the BFI’s “Flare” season of LGBTQIA+ films, “Four Mothers” is a bittersweet Irish comedy drama about the difficulties of balancing a busy working life with the role of carer to an elderly parent. It’s loosely based on Gianni Di Gregorio’s 2008 Italian comedy “Pranzo di ferragosto” (“Mid August Lunch”).
Sadly, for some of my sort of age group, and with a ‘patchy at best’ UK Social Care system, this might strike a little too close to home to be funny!
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“Four Mothers” Plot:
Edvard (James McArdle) is an author of a teenage novel that has found great success locally in the UK and Ireland and is poised to achieve even greater success through an imminent US launch. The PR company has everything planned for a 2 week book-tour criss-crossing the States. There’s only one issue. Edvard is the sole carer for his demanding elderly mother Alma (Fionnula Flanagan), recovering from a stroke, and options for cover are limited. And his problems are about to multiply.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: NR. (From the BBFC web site: “Very strong language, brief strong sex references”)
Talent:
Starring: James McArdle, Fionnula Flanagan, Dearbhla Molloy, Stella McCusker, Paddy Glynn, Gaetan Garcia, Niamh Cusack, Adam Fergus, Gordon Hickey, Rory O’Neill.
Directed by: Darren Thornton.
Written by: Colin Thornton & Darren Thornton.
Running Time: 1h 29m.
“Four Mothers” Summary:
Positives:
- A gently comical script that blends some genuine laughs with moving moments.
- A superb performance by Fionnula Flanagan that sells so much but without the use of her voice.
- A great ensemble cast.
Negatives:
- The subject matter might come a bit close to home for those juggling these issues.
Review of “Four Mothers”:
A comedy/drama that gets the balance pretty well spot on.
As we’ve talked about before in this blog, films that are classed as ‘comedy/{anything}’ can be a difficult tightrope to walk. Comedy/Thrillers can go horribly wrong. But Comedy/Dramas are probably the hardest of all to manage. Step too far into misery and/or mawkishness and it overwhelms the comedy and you end up coming out of a showing with a frown rather than a smile. The Thornton brothers should be commended for a script that gets that balance just right: there are really good laughs scattered all throughout the piece. But there is also a tragic core to the story (based, in understand, on the real-life experiences of Colin and Darren Thornton) as a carer (James McArdle) feels trapped in his life; torn between his own ambitions his duty of care towards his irrascible mother.
Absurdist Comedy.
Although based on some real experiences, there is an absurdist fictional element to the story that gives it its heart. Just when Edvard is trying (and failing) to solve his problem, another two descend thanks to his gay friends Andrew (Adam Fergus) and Billy (Gordon Hickey). And then – when things couldn’t get any worse – a fourth lands via his very unprofessional gay therapist Dermot (Rory O’Neill).
Yes, all of the men here are gay. But this is almost secondary to the plot. However, it does provoke a number of funny exchanges between the mothers about how each of their sons came out.
A voice-box has never been so funny.
Many of the funniest lines in the film come from Alma (Fionnula Flanagan) even though she doesn’t speak a single line! She communicates via an iPad and a voicebox (I believe the technical term is a ‘voice output communication aid’ (VOCA)). There is something extremely funny about the staccato outputs from the device, assisted by some neat editing from Gary Dollner and Gretta Ohle. Edvard can be bowling down the Irish motorway in the Motability bus and suddenly the mechanical voice says “Toilet” and we cut to a “Hot Fuzz” style burst of editing as the needs are met!
A strong older cast.
McArdle is great in the leading role as the luckless Edvard, all too eager to please. He seems to be rocked by everyone elses whims, bouncing of things and randomly going in another direction like his robot vacuum cleaner, surely a deliberate metaphor.
But it is the elderly cast members that you remember: Fionnula Flanagan as the quietly furious Alma, acting brilliantly with just her eyes, a vicious nod and a constantly jingling bell; Jean (Dearbhla Molloy) who’s ignored the “use it or lose it” message (that my physiotherapist daughter is always nagging me about) and who is now fighting against the consequences; Stella McCusker as Maude, a hyper-religious funeral crasher(!); and Rosie (Paddy Glynn), Dermot’s mother who has some dodgy foreign lothario constantly on the other end of a video link. All four ladies are having a whale of a time with their roles, and so we do too.
A bit close to home.
I really have very few criticisms of the film itself. It’s one of those mild and pleasant yarns that I think most audiences will enjoy. It isn’t downright hilarious and it doesn’t really break any new ground. It’s just “Nice” and that’s fine. My only reservation would be for anyone going through a struggle with elderly parents at the moment (I have someone in mind) where the situations might strike a bit too near to home to be funny. I haven’t gone as far as to put a “Trigger Warning” in this review, but your enjoyment might depend on your ability to smile wryly at life’s challenges!
Summary Thoughts on “Four Mothers”
A very enjoyable comedy/drama that certainly passed the 6-laughs test. Mixes tears with laughter but leaves you feeling good at the end of it.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Four Mothers”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i1wyJMY-aI.
Subscribe
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to One Mann’s Movies to receive future reviews by email right here. No salesman will call!
