Review of Collateral Beauty (2016) by Christopher S — 23 Jan 2017

This movie more than any other has taught me that you can't take a terrible rating at face value. You have to see for yourself. I liked it a lot. Way more than most blockbuster stuff (star wars, marvel, etc.

) Though the movie has it's flaws, it is way more satisfying than the critics give it credit for. I do want to make one point about this film that I'm not seeing in the reviews. Warning: potential spoiler ahead.

Many point out that the trailer is misleading. In the trailer, it appears as if Death, Time, and Love are some kind of spiritual personifications that appear to the actor. If that were the case, I would have HATED this movie.

I always balk at that "spirit-in-human-form" stuff. The magical visitation almost never works for me. This movies uses a different device to allow these concepts to speak and be spoken to. (some find that device to be a mean spirited stretch.

) It worked for me WAY better than the alternative, and I found that difference to be interesting. Yes, the movie at times feels manipulative, but no more so than most films I see with a much higher rating.

Please see for yourself.