Finding You Parent Guide
The thoughtful script is predictable but the film manages to be charming nonetheless.
Parent Movie Review
Finley Sinclair (Rose Reid) needs to find herself. After failing her audition, the aspiring violinist decides to take a semester and study abroad in Ireland. She hopes the lush green landscape will help her grow her musical talent and the coastal breezes might blow away her self-doubts.
Her bad luck seems to change the moment she decides to leave New York City, beginning with an offer to take a spare seat in first class for her international flight. Then she fortuitously finds herself sitting next to Beckett Rush (Jedidiah Goodacre), a child-star-turned-leading-man in a series of rather cheesy blockbuster films. Although Finley isn’t quite as impressed with the handsome celebrity as he thinks she should be, the two exchange some judgmental banter until the plane lands and they part ways knowing they will never see each other again.
Ah, but this is a romance, so we are not surprised to learn the pair are staying at the same accommodations – Beckett as a guest, Finley as a friend of the owner. Nor are we fooled by his casual suggestion to show her around town when he is not working, or her weak protest over his gentlemanly invitation.
Of course, there wouldn’t be much of a story here if there wasn’t some drama too. Most of the subplots deal with people making assumptions about others, rather than looking beyond the surface. One of these, featuring a crusty old woman (played by Vanessa Redgrave), is particularly poignant. Another, about the town drunkard (Patrick Bergin), teaches everyone, including Finley, the difference between a violin and a fiddle.
Unlike many movies in this genre, Finding You contains only a smattering of sexual references about how Beckett spends his off-hours and the relationship he has with his beautiful co-star (Katherine McNamara). The male idol is pictured shirtless on occasion, and some kisses are exchanged. Other content is also light, with just a few, mild swear words and social drinking at a pub. Violence makes it to the screen when Beckett plays a dragon-slaying adventure hero on set.
Although the thoughtful script is predictable, it is delightfully embellished by gorgeous scenery, picturesque Irish landmarks and music that will leave you both wanting to jig and contemplating your deepest sorrows. Viewers seeking a charming escape will find exactly what they came for.
Directed by Brian Baugh. Starring Katherine McNamara, Jedidiah Goodacre, and Vanessa Redgrave. Running time: 115 minutes. Theatrical release May 14, 2021. Updated October 2, 2021About author
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Finding You
Rating & Content Info
Why is Finding You rated PG? Finding You is rated PG by the MPAA for language and thematic elements.
Violence: Death and grief are talked about. Characters visits old cemeteries – one finds them fascinating, the other creepy. A character with scientific curiosity holds a wriggling earth worm. Movie stars film scenes where they battle fire-breathing dragons with swords, bows and arrows. A fake wound is shown. An angry woman yells and makes threats. Characters are mobbed by fans and paparazzi. A character threatens to hit reports with a stick. Abusive and manipulative relationships are discussed.
Sexual Content: A tabloid features pictures of a shirtless male celebrity drinking and hanging out with scantily dressed women. Affectionate kissing and embracing are shown. Some mild sexual refences are made. Characters make plays for another person’s love interest. Jealousy, grudges and spite are depicted. A sexual slang words is used.
Profanity: Infrequent use of mild profanities, scatological slang, terms of deity and name-calling.
Alcohol / Drug Use: The film includes a character who is depicted as a drunkard – he often sleeps in public places and asks for money. Characters drink at a pub and at social occasions.
Page last updated October 2, 2021
Finding You Parents' Guide
When Finley first meets Beckett, she tells him she knows all about his “type”. Why does she make this assumption? What other characters in the movie are also being assessed by their outward appearances? What do you think the script is trying to say about judging others?
As part of her schooling, Finlay is assigned to visit an elderly woman in a seniors’ home in order to understand Irish culture. What do you think you would learn about culture if you talked to a person from an older generation? Are there other benefits from doing this kind of service?
One character tells another, “You never know where you are going to be tomorrow.” How might contemplating that statement change the choices you make? Would you take more risks? Does knowing there could be a tomorrow make you consider consequences?
Another character says, “Joy and sorrow are linked together like day and night.” What do you learn from this insight?
Home Video
Related home video titles:
In keeping with the themes in this movie, a character reads the books, Pride & Prejudice and Twilight – both have been made into movies. The animation Tangled also features characters that feel manipulated and misjudged by others.Leap Year is another romantic drama set in Ireland.