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As the saying goes, sometimes things get lost in translation. If you’re a reader, you may sometimes wonder if a translated version has the same feel as the original. But in the Amazon rom-com Book of Love, one author finds that the message of his novel hasn’t just gotten lost in translation; it’s been completely changed.
Book of Love stars Sam Claflin as uptight author Henry Copper, whose painfully dull novel, The Sensible Heart, is a gigantic flop. When he learns that the book is a bestseller in Mexico, he’s sent on a book tour with his translator, María (Verónica Echegui). When he arrives in Mexico, though, he discovers that something has gone terribly wrong with his novel—which is now a steamy romance novel. Henry is livid—but with the livelihood on the line, he has to play along and work with María as they travel through the country, promoting her version of his book.
When Henry first discovers the truth—during his first interview in Mexico—it’s every bit as awkwardly funny as you might imagine. But no matter how furious he may be, he’s still forced to travel across the country with María, her son and grandfather, and their Mexican publisher in a cramped Volkswagen Beetle with no air-conditioning. They face all kinds of mishaps along the way—all while bickering about the content of Henry’s novel—giving the film plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. And as you get to know the characters—from tense and outraged Henry (who would have been played by Hugh Grant if the film had been released 20 years ago) to María, the tough single mom with a dream—you might just fall in love with them. You’ll know how their story will play out, and you’ll be perfectly happy about it.
Instead of fitting the story of these two characters and their growing connection into a lengthy book tour, though, the brief tour is just the beginning—and the film continues into what feels like a completely separate story. The second part isn’t quite as fun. It doesn’t have the same outrageous comedy—and the pacing slows. It feels like the filmmakers squeezed the wacky original and the so-so sequel into just one movie.
Book of Love isn’t without its flaws, but the lovable characters, the silly story, and the beautiful settings still make it a cozy rom-com that’s just the thing for a laid-back Friday night at home.
Book of Love is available for streaming through Amazon Prime Video beginning on February 4, 2022.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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