Some Kind of Beautiful
{{short description|2015 film by Tom Vaughan}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Some Kind of Beautiful
| image = Some Kind of Beautiful.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Tom Vaughan
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Richard Barton Lewis
- Pierce Brosnan
- Beau St. Clair
- Kevin Frakes
- Raj Brinder Singh
- Remington Chase
- Grant Cramer
- Simon Orange
}}
| writer = Matthew Newman
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| music = {{Plainlist|
}}
| cinematography = David Tattersall
| editing = Matthew Friedman
| studio = {{Plainlist|
}}
| distributor = Lionsgate
| released = {{Film date|2014|11|06|AFM premiere|2015|08|21|United States}}
| runtime = 99 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $30 million
| gross = $6.3 million
}}
Some Kind of Beautiful (released as How to Make Love Like an Englishman in Canada, Lessons in Love in the United Kingdom, and Teach Me Love in Europe) is a 2014 American romantic comedy film directed by Tom Vaughan, based on a screenplay by Matthew Newman.{{cite web |title=Trivia |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1725986/trivia/?item=tr2596450 |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=IMDb}} The film stars Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, and Jessica Alba and was produced by Kevin Frakes and Richard Lewis.
Some Kind of Beautiful was released in the United States on August 21, 2015, by Lionsgate Premiere. A critical and commercial failure, the film was overwhelmingly panned by critics and grossed approximately $6.3 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $30 million.
==Plot==
Richard Haig, a charismatic Cambridge literature professor, reflects on the events leading to a major turning point in his life as he speaks to his young son, Jake. Influenced by his philandering father, Gordon, Richard has long embraced a similar lifestyle, dating a series of younger women. Among them is Kate, a 25-year-old American student.
While preparing to meet Kate’s father at a hotel bar, Richard flirts with a woman who turns out to be Kate’s sister, Olivia. The two form a fast friendship, agreeing to always be honest with one another. Kate soon announces that she is pregnant, and despite initial hesitation, Richard commits to settling down. He marries Kate and relocates to Los Angeles, where he finds work at a local community college, though he finds the job unfulfilling.
Over time, their relationship deteriorates. Richard discovers Kate with another man, Brian, and they separate. Two years later, Richard is pulled over for driving under the influence, having mixed medication with alcohol. He loses his license and is forced to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Meanwhile, Olivia, now separated from her husband, returns to help Richard care for Jake while Kate travels with Brian.
As they spend time together, Richard and Olivia's mutual attraction resurfaces, culminating in a romantic encounter. When Kate and Brian return unexpectedly, the situation is exposed, causing friction. Richard’s father arrives and meets Jake for the first time.
Despite completing his required AA meetings, Richard is denied certification due to misbehavior. During a lecture, he abandons the prepared material, impressing a university representative who offers him a teaching position. However, Kate refuses to support his green card renewal, resulting in his deportation.
Back in the UK, Richard resumes teaching and cares for his ailing father, who encourages him to pursue Olivia. After Gordon's death, Richard returns to the U.S. illegally to fulfill his father's wish of having his ashes scattered in Los Angeles. He reconciles with Kate and attends Olivia’s book launch with the family. At the beach, after scattering the ashes, Richard proposes to Olivia.
Cast
{{cast listing|
- Pierce Brosnan as Richard Haig
- Oliver Bell as young Richard
- Salma Hayek as Olivia
- Jessica Alba as Kate
- Ben McKenzie as Brian
- Fred Melamed as Piggott
- Ivan Sergei as Tim
- Malcolm McDowell as Gordon Haig
- Lombardo Boyar as Ernesto
- Merrin Dungey as Angela
- Duncan Joiner as Jake
- Lee Garlington as Wendy
- Robert Mailhouse as Alan
- Marlee Matlin as Cindy
}}
Production
Jessica Alba, Pierce Brosnan, and Kristin Scott Thomas were the first actors to be cast in May 2013.{{cite news |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=8 May 2013 |title=Pierce Brosnan To Show How To Make Love Like An Englishman (Isn't He Irish?) |url=https://deadline.com/2013/05/pierce-brosnan-to-show-how-to-make-love-like-an-englishman-isnt-he-irish-493273/ |access-date=23 October 2013 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} Thomas later exited the project and was replaced by Salma Hayek.{{cite news |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=7 October 2013 |title=Salma Hayek Lands Lead In How To Make Love Like An Englishman |url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/salma-hayek-lands-lead-in-how-to-make-love-like-an-englishman-604991/ |access-date=23 October 2013}} Ben McKenzie joined the cast on October 17, 2013.{{cite news |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=17 October 2013 |title=Ben McKenzie Joins Cast of How To Make Love Like an Englishman (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/ben-mckenzie-how-to-make-love-like-an-englishman-1200734907/ |accessdate=23 October 2013 |newspaper=Variety}}
Filming
Principal photography began in Los Angeles on October 14, 2013, and concluded on November 9, 2013, with the shoot lasting 25 days.
Release
The film had its world premiere at the American Film Market (AFM) on November 6, 2014.{{cite web |author=The Deadline Team |title='Mr Right' Rights Sell To Lakeshore & Sierra/Affinity – AFM Briefs - Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2014/10/mr-right-lakeshore-international-american-film-market-853341/ |website=Deadline Hollywood}} It was released in Denmark on June 4, 2015, followed by a DirecTV release on July 23, 2015. It later received a limited theatrical release, and was made available through video on demand on August 21, 2015.{{cite web |author=Ross A. Lincoln |title=[WATCH] 'Some Kind Of Beautiful Trailer – Brosnan, Hayek Fall In Love - Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/some-kind-of-beautiful-pierce-brosnan-romantic-comedy-1201479783/ |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{cite web |title=Lionsgate Publicity |url=http://www.lionsgatepublicity.com/theatrical/somekindofbeautiful/ |work=lionsgatepublicity.com}}
Reception
Some Kind of Beautiful was overwhelmingly panned by critics.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 6% based on 33 reviews, with an average rating of 3.25/10. The website’s critics consensus reads: "Stranding Pierce Brosnan as a charmless cad, this tone-deaf romantic comedy is Some Kind of something, but it definitely isn't beautiful."{{cite web |title=Some Kind of Beautiful (2015) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/some_kind_of_beautiful |accessdate=August 28, 2020 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 11 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "overwhelming dislike."{{cite web |title=Some Kind Of Beautiful Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/some-kind-of-beautiful |accessdate=August 28, 2020 |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive}}
Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com awarded Some Kind of Beautiful 1 star, describing it as “flimsy, clunky, and stale” and criticizing its lack of coherence and tonal inconsistency.{{Cite web |title=Some Kind of Beautiful movie review (2015) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/some-kind-of-beautiful-2015 |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}} Variety’s Justin Chang called it “a drearily unfunny romantic comedy,” remarking that the film squanders its cast in a contrived and directionless narrative.{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=2015-08-23 |title=Film Review: ‘Some Kind of Beautiful’ |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/some-kind-of-beautiful-review-pierce-brosnan-salma-hayek-1201576423/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} Vulture labeled the film “some kind of ugly,” taking aim at its dated gender politics and lifeless humor.{{Cite web |last=Ebiri |first=Bilge |last2=York |first2=a film critic for New |last3=Vulture |date=2015-08-22 |title=Some Kind of Beautiful Is Some Kind of Ugly |url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/08/some-kind-of-beautiful-is-some-kind-of-ugly.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Vulture |language=en}} Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times wrote that the film “struggles to find a purpose,” criticizing the uneven tone and underdeveloped characters.{{Cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=2015-08-21 |title=Review: ‘Some Kind of Beautiful’ Stars Pierce Brosnan as a Serial Seducer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/movies/review-some-kind-of-beautiful-stars-pierce-brosnan-as-a-serial-seducer.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
Common Sense Media rated Some Kind of Beautiful 1 out of 5 stars, citing excessive sexual content, gender stereotypes, and a lack of emotional depth, concluding that it offers little of value even to adult audiences.{{Cite web |last=Movie & TV reviews for parents |title=Some Kind of Beautiful Movie Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/some-kind-of-beautiful |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.commonsensemedia.org |language=en}} Yahoo Movies described Some Kind of Beautiful as “tone-deaf and outdated,” failing to balance romantic comedy with serious themes and suffering from a clichéd, meandering plot.{{Cite web |date=2015-08-23 |title=Film Review: ‘Some Kind of Beautiful’ |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/film-review-kind-beautiful-092918900.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}} At Home in Hollywood similarly described Some Kind of Beautiful as “a prime example of miscasting and missed opportunity,” noting that even the charisma of its stars couldn’t redeem the film’s shallow script.{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-07-01 |title=Some Kind of Beautiful Review -- Staci Layne Wilson |url=https://athomeinhollywood.com/2015/07/01/some-kind-of-beautiful-review-its-some-kind-of/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |language=en-US}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|1725986}}
- {{rottentomatoes|some_kind_of_beautiful}}
- {{Metacritic film}}
- {{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/cannes-first-image-of-pierce-brosnan-salma-hayek-comedy-how-to-make-love-like-an-englishman-1201186211/ |title=CANNES: First Image of Pierce Brosnan-Salma Hayek Comedy How to Make Love Like an Englishman |work=Variety |date=19 May 2014 |accessdate=19 July 2015}}
- {{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/some-kind-of-beautiful-pierce-brosnan-romantic-comedy-1201479783/ |title=Some Kind Of Beautiful Trailer – Pierce Brosnan's Charming Mid Life Crisis |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Ross A. |last=Lincoln |date=17 July 2015 |accessdate=19 July 2015}}
{{Tom Vaughan}}
Category:2014 romantic comedy films
Category:American romantic comedy films
Category:Films directed by Tom Vaughan (director)
Category:Films scored by David Newman (composer)
Category:Films shot in Los Angeles