Kids, I have a bone to pick… I’d been eyeing up This Beautiful Fantastic, dating back to my post All of Us Strangers, Andrew Scott deep-dive. Add in Jessica Brown Findlay, and the moony twenty-something I keep buried deep inside was intrigued. Let’s just say… after her Downton Abbey departure, the show was never the same for yours truly. I adore her work. 

Alright, back to This Beautiful Fantastic. It took me far too long to watch this film. Maybe it was reviews? Maybe I had preconceived notions? To make a long story short, I just never clicked on it. 

Don’t judge a film by its poster. 

This Beautiful Fantastic follows Bella (Findlay), a young aspiring writer, who finds herself stuck taking care of her landlord’s (Tom Wilkinson) garden. As she struggles to move forward on her journey, she finds an idyllic path. Andrew Scott co-stars in the movie. Simon Aboud directs This Beautiful Fantastic from his own script. 

This movie was a mood. I’ve seen reviews talking about it being a little slow, a little meandering. Kids, believe it or not, this isn’t a bad thing. This Beautiful Fantastic feels exactly like the fairy tale Bella is trying to create. I was, I suppose, smitten. 

There’s something ethereal that I adore in Findlay’s star persona. We saw a bit of this with her work as Sybil in Downton Abbey, and this is certainly seen in Winter’s Tale(2014). Even when she exists in a grounded world (as she does in this film), she’s a dreamer. She’s whimsical and an “old soul,” as is the case in this film. 

I was, though, surprised that Andrew Scott didn’t end up being the narrative focus for me. I’m always watching for Andrew Scott. While he’s (as always) delightful here, he’s not the focus. 

Instead, it’s the emotional work between Tom Wilkinson and Brown Findlay that left me utterly bought in. These two “old souls” understand each other instinctively. Both performers find a sweet bond that fills in gently as the narrative continues. As things came to an end, I found myself wanting so much more. 

This is a good problem to have. 

I streamed This Beautiful Fantastic on Tubi.