Collateral Beauty Movie Review

Will Smith stars in Collateral Beauty

The Big Why

Rotten Tomatoes Plot: When a successful New York advertising executive (Will Smith) suffers a great tragedy he retreats from life. While his concerned friends try desperately to reconnect with him, he seeks answers from the universe by writing letters to Love (Keira Knightley) Time (Jacob Latimore) and Death (Helen Mirren.) But it's not until his notes bring unexpected personal responses that he begins to understand how these constants interlock in a life fully lived, and how even the deepest loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty. Directed by David Frankel.

Tis' the season to be jolly sad. Really sad. Cue Will Smith and his (seemingly) never-ending search for an Oscar in Frankel's Collateral Beauty. Unfortunately for Smith, he's relegated to playing with dominoes and riding his bicycle into traffic. What a waste. Ditto for A-list co-stars Edward Norton, Michael Peña and Kate Winslet, who are just shy of awful. The lone exceptions? Naomie Harris and Mirren, who delights as an actress eager to tackle all roles. Is it enough to resemble It's a Wonderful Life? Hardly. Audiences want to be entertained during the holidays, not run over by a truck.

Grade: D