Hit by a personal tragedy, a successful advertising executive withdraws from professional life and writes letters to the universe. When the universe starts replying, he begins to realise that beauty may be found in some rather dark places. ‘Collateral Beauty’ is a tearjerker heavy on emotions. But at times, it gets a little overbearing and even the dry humour employed makes the suffering feel endless. You hope that when the three actors enter Howard's life, there would be some comic relief. But philosophy flies thick and fast, from minor characters as well. Redemption for viewers is in the form of the unlikely relationships that develop between Amy and Whit, Raffi and Claire and Bridgette and Simon. Seeing that thread unravel through the film is a joy to watch. Their conversations play out like revelations through crisp dialogue.
The message being – when you accept your losses you can move beyond suffering and pain, down a path of redemption which is a thing of beauty. However, the play on the term ‘collateral damage’ fails to hit home as the movie takes a long-winded route to get there.
