Four Letters of Love (2025) Review: When Irish Eyes Are Maybe Smiling a Bit Too Much

Right, let’s get something straight off the bat – I’m usually the first person to go misty-eyed over a good romance. Chuck in some gorgeous Irish scenery, add Helena Bonham Carter doing what she does best, and I should be sold. But crikey, sometimes even the sweetest treats can give you toothache.

Star Power Can’t Quite Save This Sugary Tale

Based on Niall Williams’ international bestseller (and yes, it came before Nicholas Sparks’ similar-but-different “Message in a Bottle”), “Four Letters of Love” wants desperately to be this year’s big romantic weepy. The ingredients are all there: Pierce Brosnan abandoning his civil service job after a mystical sunbeam moment (as you do), young lovers fated to meet, and enough shots of the Irish countryside to fill a tourism board campaign.

Fionn O’Shea plays Nicholas Coughlan with earnest charm, while Ann Skelly brings real depth to Isabel, a young woman dealing with family trauma. But blimey, the coincidences and destiny-laden plot points start piling up faster than empty cups at a tea party.

When Reality Meets Romance

Remember when Irish romance meant “Normal People” levels of raw emotion and authenticity? This film seems to have missed that memo, instead diving headfirst into the kind of melodrama that makes “P.S. I Love You” look positively understated.

That said, there are moments of genuine magic. Helena Bonham Carter and Gabriel Byrne, as Isabel’s parents, could probably read the phone book and make it compelling. Their scenes together offer glimpses of what this film could have been with a lighter touch on the whimsy throttle.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered

Is Four Letters of Love based on a true story?

No, it’s based on Niall Williams’ 1997 novel of the same name, though the West Ireland setting is very much real and absolutely gorgeous on screen.

How does it compare to the book?

Williams adapted his own novel for the screen, but some of the book’s nuanced magic gets lost in translation. What works on the page sometimes feels a bit heavy-handed when actually played out.

Is it worth watching for the cast alone?

If you’re a fan of any of the main three – Bonham Carter, Brosnan, or Byrne – you’ll find something to enjoy. They’re giving it their all, even when the material gets a bit sticky.

The Final Word

Look, I wanted to love “Four Letters of Love” more than I did. It’s like that friend who tries too hard at karaoke – the enthusiasm is there, but sometimes less is more. While it’ll definitely find its audience (particularly among Nicholas Sparks fans), others might find themselves wishing for a bit more subtlety and a touch less sugar in their romantic brew.

Share your thoughts below! Are you planning to catch this one at the cinema, or are you saving your romantic drama quota for something else this year?

[Internal links to “Best British Films 2025”, “Helena Bonham Carter filmography”, “Romance Movies Review Section”]
[External links to Williams’ novel on Goodreads, The Guardian’s original book review]