four mothers review
film by Darren Thornton (2024)
What would you do if your three friends left for Spain on a sudden Pride holiday and placed their elderly mothers in your care? This is the question Darren Thornton’s Four Mothers sets out to answer.
Review by: Max Palmer | Filed Under: Film Reviews
Aug 15, 2025
The film is inspired by the Italian film Mid-August Lunch (2008), which shares a similar underlying plot, but Four Mothers adds a distinctly gay Irish twist.
Edward (James McArdle) is an up-and-coming writer who just can’t find the words to sell his book. While dealing with the stress of that, he also has to care for his own mother, Alma (Fionnula Flanagan), who has recently suffered a stroke and can now only communicate via her iPad, using a voice that sounds like a sentient Sat-Nav.
Just as Edward is on the brink of success, his friends Billy (Gordon Hickey), Colm (Gearoid Farrelly), and later Dermot (Rory O’Neill) decide to jet off to a multi-day Pride party in the Canaries, leaving their mothers in Edward’s care.
One of the joys of the film comes from the dynamic between the mothers and their quirks. For example, Jean (Dearbhla Molloy) is only interested in smoking and watching TV, Maude (Stella McCusker) regularly attends the wakes of strangers, and Roesy (Paddy Glyn) spends her time video-calling her international boyfriend.
Despite the absurd setup, the story is surprisingly simple and warm. It doesn’t try to tackle complex subjects like the loneliness of old age or the need for companionship, but that actually works in its favour.
The comedy in the film comes from the clashing personalities of the elderly women and Edward’s increasing frustration. Their eccentric habits, such as attending strangers’ funerals, making constant video calls, and sending passive-aggressive messages through an iPad, create chaotic and awkward situations. The humour relies on subtle absurdity and character interactions. However there are only so many times an important zoom call being interrupted by an elderly woman asking for food is funny.
Another strength of the film is that it isn’t just the younger characters who grow. All of the characters experience change, which is not often the case in comedy-dramas involving older adults. In a strange way, the film reminded me of Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days (2023), where from a distance nothing much seems to happen, but on closer inspection, you find moments of self-discovery and quiet transformation.
The film also includes a séance subplot, in which Edward communicates with his deceased father. This scene strikes the perfect balance between humour and sadness, and it serves as a natural emotional climax. Unfortunately, this is also where the emotional impact ends.
Throughout the film, I found Edward frustrating due to his inability to make a decision and stick to it. Some scenes were clearly intended to be emotional but fell flat due to the somehwat bland characters. I think the film would have benefited from choosing between being either a full comedy or full drama. The weird mix results in a bizarre tone, as emotional scenes often follow comedic ones, creating a kind of whiplash.
Overall, Four Mothers is a nice film and that is about it. It is an enjoyable watch with a few memorable scenes, but it ultimately struggles to leave a lasting impression.
Author
Reviewed by Max Palmer. Based in North Wales, Max has had an admiration for films ever since he got Pinnochio on DVD for his third birthday, since then he has grown to be a fan of anything and everything from David Lynch to Hayao Miyazaki. However his heart has a special place for anything shocking and underground.
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