Amazon Prime Video’s Book of Love is yet another predictable rom-com Hallmark-ish film. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
Amazon Prime Video’s Book of Love dropped on the streaming service today, February 4th. The film stars Sam Claflin as an English author who writes a dull book that goes viral in Mexico due to the Spanish translator’s changing the plot to make it more “erotic.” This rom-com has a very Hallmark-ish movie feel, is heavy on the subtitles, and is totally predictable. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
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Book of Love Movie Quotes
BOOK OF LOVE Parents Guide
In Book of Love, young, uptight English writer Henry’s (Sam Claflin) novel is a resolute failure. He is delighted to find out his book is a surprise hit in Mexico, but when he is invited there to promote it, he soon discovers why – his Spanish translator, Maria (Veronica Echegui) has rewritten his dull book as an erotic novel. Henry is furious, and even more so when his publisher insists he and Maria conduct a book tour across Mexico together. Opposites attract, and the chemistry between the couple ensures sparks fly.
BOOK OF LOVE Age Appropriate Parents Guide
Let’s take a look at what parents need to know before letting their kids watch Book of Love.
Language: Book of Love contains some strong language, with profanity used throughout. Lookout words include: f*ck, a**, and hell. Profanity is also used in subtitles that include: sh*t and son of a b*tch.
Mature Content: The film is centered around an erotic book, so heavy sex themes are discussed throughout the film. Characters are shown throwing their panties at the author. Topics such as orgasms are discussed. Characters are shown passionately kissing and there is implied sex with characters waking up in bed together naked (under covers). Characters consume alcohol in the film and become intoxicated. There is also a scene in which a character is shown giving the bird. The film is heavy on the use of subtitles.
Overall Thoughts
Considering the premise of Amazon Prime Video’s Book of Love, writers could have had a lot more fun with the film than what was delivered. The love for erotic novels has been around for decades, ever since Fabio graced the cover with his long flowing locks, and more recently with the 50 Shades of Gray franchise. There is definitely a huge fandom for the erotic book genre, which this movie could have really explored. It did touch a little on this zeal, as audiences watched in delight when fans threw their underwear at the author during a book tour stop. Unfortunately, the plot quickly turns from book fandom to yet another predictable romance story. This isn’t to say the story is bad per se, but it brings nothing new to the rom-com genre that fans haven’t seen a thousand times before.
Sam Claflin and Verónica Echegui both give solid performances as Henry and Maria in the film. Claflin delivers a rigid and dullish performance as Henry, which seems to be completely in tune with his character. Juxtaposed to Echegui’s Maria, who is feisty, passionate, and really carries the scenes in which the two share. The biggest flaw is the chemistry between the two, which seems awkward and forced.
Book of Love‘s biggest weakness is in the ordinary material itself. The jokes fall flat, and the plot is totally predictable, making this rom-com more of a rom-bomb. I mean, I suppose there is a market for this kind of mediocre, cut-and-paste movie, but wouldn’t it be grand to have one that bucks that trend and is engagingly refreshing and uniquely original? As much as one could make it obviously in 2022, that is. I don’t pretend to know the formula for what that could be, but I have seen enough films to know that Book of Love is not it, and it only perpetuates the rom-com desert of recent years.
