Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter in "It's a Wonderful Life" no doubt would call "Collateral Beauty" sentimental hogwash. But then Potter was the meanest man in town. Yes the director could have made a better movie and made better use of the incredibly talented cast, but he didn't. He made this movie, and critics who take movies to task for what they aren't are usually cynical beyond belief, able to ignore a genuine effort to make a film about what the death of a child means to parents whose lives are irreparably damaged. Will Smith delivers a remarkable performance that can make you cry by just looking at his grieving face. There are times that the allusions to Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" are obvious and may make you wish that this film had gone even farther with the fantastic elements. But a "Christmas Carol" has been made into a film several times, so this is more of a variation on a theme. Let's put it this way, if you are a fan of Quentin Tarantino, this film will nauseate you. If you love "It's a Wonderful Life," this one is for you.
Review of Collateral Beauty
