Finding You (film)

Last updated
Finding You
Finding you.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBrian Baugh
Screenplay byBrian Baugh
Based onThere You'll Find Me
by Jenny B. Jones
Produced by
  • Ken Carpenter
  • Julie Ryan
  • Brian Baugh
  • Stephen Preston
Starring
CinematographyMichael Lavelle
Edited byChris Witt
Music by Timothy Williams
Kieran Kiely
Production
companies
  • Nook Lane Entertainment
  • Red Sky Studios
  • MK1 Productions
Distributed by Roadside Attractions
Release date
  • May 14, 2021 (2021-05-14)
Running time
119 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$3.3 million [1] [2]

Finding You is a 2021 American coming-of-age romantic comedy written and directed by Brian Baugh, based on the 2011 young adult novel There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones. It stars Rose Reid, Jedidiah Goodacre and Katherine McNamara. It was released theatrically in the United States by Roadside Attractions on May 14, 2021.

Contents

Plot

After an ill-fated audition at a prestigious New York music school, Finley Sinclair follows in her late brother Alex's footsteps and takes up a student exchange program he once took, travelling to a coastal village in Ireland to begin a semester studying abroad. There she meets heartthrob movie star Beckett Rush, who is shooting the latest installment of his medieval fantasy-adventure franchise. They begin an unlikely romance, but when forces surrounding Beckett's stardom threaten to crush their dreams, Finley must decide what she will risk for love. [3] [4]

Cast

Production

Filming was in Ireland, in and around Dublin, Clare, Offaly, Kildare, Cooley and Carlingford, County Louth; and also in New York City, Los Angeles and Nashville. [5] In September 2020, it was announced that Roadside Attractions had acquired the film's US theatrical distribution rights from Red Sky Studios, Nook Lane Entertainment and MK1 Studios. [3] The film's initial title, There You'll Find Me, was renamed to Finding You.

Release

The film was released theatrically in the United States on May 14, 2021, [6] by Roadside Attractions. [7]

Reception

Box office

Finding You was projected to gross $532,000-$1 million in its opening weekend. [7] It made $323,000 from 1,314 theaters on its first day, and $954,000 over its opening weekend. [8]

Critical response

According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 53% of 38 critics reviewed the film positively, with an average rating of 5.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Although Finding You manages to fit every contrivance possible into its story, its charming fluff and sharp humor may be enough to win the hearts of romance fans." [9] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 41 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [10] Audiences surveyed by PostTrak gave the film a 71% positive score, with 46% saying they would definitely recommend it. [8]

Giving the film 2.5/4 stars, Michael O'Sullivan positively reviewed the film for the Washington Post , writing that although it contained "no real surprises... Finding You kinda, sorta [works]." [11] Plugged In (publication) reviewer Paul Asay opined that while the story is "fairly predictable", it illustrated well "that sex and romance aren't synonymous; that kindness matters; and that even in moments of disappointment, God may be operating behind the scenes." [12] Tara McNamara of Common Sense Media also commented on the film's religious themes, writing that "the movie's faith-based elements has a mic-drop moment, but it happens without a single line of dialogue and isn't jarring or forced." McNamara gave the film 3/5 stars, praising the well-assembled cast and the setting in the Irish countryside, noting that the film was more a coming-of-age story than a romance. [13]

In a mixed review for the Los Angeles Times , Michael Ordoña praised many of the cast members but criticized the film's determination "to be PG-clean" and Finley's character, saying she lacked personality. [14] Giving the film a grade of "C", Adam Graham of the Detroit News opined that the film was heavily clichéd and lacked anything of substance "except for the exquisite greenery of Ireland." [15] Kate Erbland of Indie Wire gave it a "C−" grade, deriding it for its predictability, but noting that it contained "brief moments of magic":

Finley and Beckett’s frequent field trips afford them time to charm each other against lush Irish backdrops, Beckett’s troubles with fame shine an unexpectedly prescient light on the movie-making world, and Finley’s bond with crotchety Mrs. Sweeney (Redgrave) is both amusing and heartfelt. But even those flashes of sweetness and smartness are stuck in between increasingly odd twists and tropes, eager to play up the “Notting Hill” of it all without actually doing the work to make it stick. [16]

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References

  1. "Finding You (2021) - Financial Information". The Numbers . Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  2. "Finding You (2021)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Ramos, Dino-Ray (17 September 2020). "Roadside Attractions Acquires Coming-Of-Age Romance 'Finding You'". Deadline. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  4. Stewart, John (19 September 2020). "Romantic Drama 'Finding You' to Release in Theaters in January 2021". The Slanted. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  5. Meek, Andrea (22 September 2020). "Romantic drama "Finding You" set for U.S. release". Irish Central. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  6. "'Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway' Moves up Another Week – Updated". 26 May 2021.
  7. 1 2 Shawn Robbins (May 13, 2021). "Weekend Box Office Forecast: 'Spiral: From the Book of Saw', 'Those Who Wish Me Dead', and 'Profile' Release Nationwide". Box Office Pro . Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  8. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 16, 2021). "Lackluster B.O. Weekend As US Pandemic Calms: 'Spiral' Sees $8.7M, Zack Snyder Netflix Movie 'Army Of The Dead' Opening To Est. $780K". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  9. "Finding You (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  10. "Finding You". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  11. Michael O'Sullivan (May 12, 2021). "Girl meets movie star in 'Finding You,' a surprisingly unaffected Y.A. love story". Washington Post . Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  12. Paul Asay. "Finding You". Plugged In (publication) . Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  13. Tara McNamara (9 April 2021). "Finding You Movie Review". Common Sense Media . Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  14. Michael Ordoña (May 12, 2021). "Review: Young-adult romance 'Finding You' is on a quest for the obvious". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  15. Adam Graham (May 13, 2021). "Review: Young adult love story 'Finding You' finds plenty of sap". Detroit News . Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  16. Kate Erbland (May 12, 2021). "'Finding You' Review: Rehashing 'Notting Hill' for Millennials, with Middling Results". Indie Wire . Retrieved May 15, 2021.