Finding You

Call this a "starter romance": a sweet story that's low on lovey-dovey stuff and more about growing up. It's actually less romantic than many Disney animated princess movies, although Finley (Reid) is just a few degrees away from Belle in Beauty and the Beast: She's grounded and not interested in distractions from her scholarly pursuits. And the movie's "prince," Beckett, starts out much like Gaston: He's an arrogant man about town who's used to having admirers fall over him. But the more Finley allows Beckett into her life, like The Beast, the more we see him for who he is. That might make for an enchanting animated fable, but in a modern-day live-action film, it's a little troubling. Yes, digging deeper to look past people's facades is a great message. But these days, most parents usually hope that their kids will realize that if a potential love interest looks and acts like a narcissist, it's in their best interest to not get involved.

Finding You is full of discoveries, like a smartly assembled cast and the beauty of Ireland. It offers an escape for families longing to visit ancient lands with captivating castles and grass that's blindingly green. The subplot about a medieval, dragon-slaying fantasy film being shot in the castles near Carlingford is a clever use of the space. While not all of it makes sense, Beckett's dad/manager has tight control over the life of his son, which introduces elements of critical thinking for kids who might realize that fame and fortune have a price. Finding You works both for families seeking out faith-based films and for those who aren't interested. One of 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. Bottom line? As a piece of entertainment, you're likely to find that you get more out of this film than you might have expected.