Finding You

As charming as it is long, Finding You, the new movie from cinematographer-turned director Brian Baugh is packed with plenty of good intentions and awkward cliches. And that’s part of the problem.

Adapted from the Jenny B. Jones' 2011 YA novel titled, There You’ll Find Me, Baugh’s film is about Finley Sinclair (YA film ingenue Rose Reid), a young music student struggling to find her passion for playing the violin with hopes of getting into a prestigious New York music school.

"loaded with plenty of charm from the likable cast, beautiful cinematography, and features an infectious spirit that very nearly saves the entire thing"


 

She finds it in Ireland during a semester abroad program. Complications arise though, when she also finds a love interest in the form of Beckett Rush (Jedediah Goodacre, TV’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), a popular young movie star trying to cope with his own set of struggles.

The two meet on the airplane on their way to Ireland and wouldn’t you know it, they happen to be staying in the same hotel! They don’t quite hit it off right away with Finley playing hard to get and Beckett pouring on his boyish charm. But as the story plays out, the couple form a relationship, fall in love, fall out of love, address some problems, and fall back in love. End of story.

To be honest, it is more complicated than that. Way more complicated. Too complicated, in fact, as numerous subplots, diversions, distractions, and too many unnecessarily busy personal relationship problems muddy what should have been a quaint little love story set in the gorgeously photographed Irish countryside.

As a part of her studies, Finley is assigned a project to befriend an elderly woman named Cathleen (played by Vanessa Redgrave) who is spending her closing days in a nursing home. And wouldn’t you know it, the lady is an angry old biddy who does her best to wreck Finley’s class project. Finley is determined though, and she not only eventually breaks the ice, but in the process uncovers an old festering family wound. Despite the wonderful performance from veteran actress Redgrave, this subplot is forced at every turn and is one of the least rewarding of the bunch.Finding You

Finley also meets Seamus (veteran character actor Patrick Bergen), the town drunk who, when not playing music in the pubs, is sleeping on the local park benches, yet turns out to be the most genuine inhabitant of the entire quirky little Irish burgh. And guess what instrument he plays? You guessed it, the violin (although he calls it a fiddle). I’ll leave it to you to guess where this relationship goes.

Other side plots, one involving Beckett’s controlling father (Tom Everett Scott) who drums up controversy on the “socials” to keep his son’s career relevant, and another concerning some drawings left behind by Finley’s late brother, do little more than pad the runtime.

Sure, Finding You is loaded with plenty of charm from the likable cast, beautiful cinematography, and features an infectious spirit that very nearly saves the entire thing. But Baugh’s adaptation tries to cover too much ground and is never quite clever enough to elevate the proceedings above its made-for-TV sentiments. With a tighter script and at least one of the subplots trimmed, this romantic drama about finding the courage to be true to oneself could have hit many more high notes. As it is though, Finding You never quite finds its groove.

2/5 stars

Film Details

Finding You

MPAA Rating: PG for language and thematic elements.
Runtime:
115 mins
Director
: Brian Baugh
Writer:
Brian Baugh
Cast:
Katherine McNamara, Jedidiah Goodacre, Vanessa Redgrave
Genre
: Romance | Drama
Tagline:
Trust the Journey.
Memorable Movie Quote:
Theatrical Distributor:
Roadside Attractions
Official Site:
Release Date:
May 14, 2021
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:

Synopsis: After an ill-fated audition at a prestigious New York music conservatory, violinist Finley Sinclair (Rose Reid) travels to an Irish coastal village to begin her semester studying abroad. At the B&B run by her host family she encounters gregarious and persistent heartthrob movie star Beckett Rush (Jedidiah Goodacre), who is there to film another installment of his medieval fantasy-adventure franchise. As romance sparks between the unlikely pair, Beckett ignites a journey of discovery for Finley that transforms her heart, her music, and her outlook on life. In turn, Finley emboldens Beckett to reach beyond his teen-idol image and pursue his true passion. But when forces surrounding Beckett’s stardom threaten to crush their dreams, Finley must decide what she is willing to risk for love.

 

Art

Finding You