MoviesCinemas
EverythingNew to NetflixNew to StanNew to Apple TV+New to BingeNew to Prime VideoNew to Disney+
This Beautiful Fantastic
Trailer

This Beautiful Fantastic

This Beautiful Fantastic

A young aspiring author (Downton Abbey's Jessica Brown Findlay) and a cantankerous, rich old widower (two-time Oscar-nominee Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton) begin an unlikely friendship in this British romantic drama. More

When Bella (Findlay) is forced by her landlord to deal with her neglected garden or face eviction, she meets her nemesis, match and mentor in Alfie Stephenson (Wilkinson), the grouchy, loveless old man who lives next door and is an amazing horticulturalist.

Less
2016Rating: PG, Mild coarse language92 minsUK, USA
ComedyDramaFantasyRomance
Director:
Simon Aboud ('Comes a Bright Day')
Writer:
Simon Aboud
Cast:
Jessica Brown FindlayTom WilkinsonJeremy IrvineAndrew ScottAnna ChancellorCharlotte AspreyEileen DaviesSheila Hancock

Streaming (3 Providers)

Reckon we have something wrong? Let us know.

This Beautiful Fantastic | Reviews

61%23 reviews

Rotten Tomatoes® Score

All reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Flicks, Adam Fresco

Flicks, Adam Fresco

Writer-director Simon Aboud delivers a gentle comedy about an unlikely friendship that’s neither particularly beautiful, nor that fantastic, but not without considerable charm. Bella (Jessica Brown Findlay), is introduced as, “the oddest of oddballs.” Orphaned as a baby, saved by ducks, now grown into an obsessively ordered librarian, and aspiring children's author, Bella faces eviction, unless she restores her London home’s neglected garden. Terrified by the unpredictability of nature, Bella is forced from her orderly, indoor world, into the wild outdoors, where she meets her neighbour - grouchy, wealthy widower, and inspired gardener, Alfie (Tom Wilkinson).

Full review
Variety

Variety

There are no puppies, kittens or baby bunnies in This Beautiful Fantastic. That said, however, any restraint before the altar of adorableness is abandoned in writer-director Simon Aboud's sophomore feature.

Full review
The Washington Post

The Washington Post

Depending on how you take your twee - sparingly or, as is the case in this preciously concocted tale of English misfits, slathered like marmalade over a crumpet - it will either delight or quickly cloy.

Full review
The New York Times

The New York Times

Aboud ... works some obvious parallels as he tells the story of a timid young woman, her cranky old neighbour and the garden that separates them, but enjoyable performances keep the tale from becoming too heavy-handed.

Full review
Stuff

Stuff

Finlay reminds one of a young Winona Ryder as she winsomely juggles learning to garden with letting her guard down, while the always watchable Andrew Scott once again proves to be a scene-stealer with his kindly cook.

Full review
New Zealand Herald

New Zealand Herald

An enjoyable, if predictable film of familiar faces, tropes, and environs.

Full review
Hollywood Reporter

Hollywood Reporter

None of what transpires is earth-shattering, but it's the way it happens, with the simplicity and sense of wonder of an old-fashioned picture book, that makes her story, however wispy, delightful.

Full review

Search suggestions

Join Flicks

Already have a Flicks Account?

Password reset

Don’t have a Flicks Account?

Remembered your password?

Your username

To post ratings/reviews we need a username. This is what will appear next to your ratings and reviews.

You have to sign in first