The Most Beautiful Girl in the World Movie Review: The earnestness of the leads shines in this largely derivative romantic film

The title of Robert Ronny’s romantic drama film and its basic premise come off as rather derivative. In a sense, perhaps that’s there to mislead you. Because, truth be told, amidst some very predictable fare, there’s unusual depth that emerges from the story. The parts of pure cliché are often overshadowed by the earnest lead performances. In its endearing way, the message from The Most Beautiful Girl in the World is simple: that true beauty is what lies within. Cynical, wealthy playboy Reuben (Reza Rahadian) has issues from his childhood that make him doubt women, in general. His mother left home when he was a young boy, never to return. He shares a complicated relationship with his father, who is also his boss at the successful TV channel the latter owns. The station hosts a hackneyed reality dating show where attractive women are commodified; a handsome bachelor must be won over from a handful of contestants at the end of every season. Reuben is rather dismissive of the show’s unoriginality and general sexism. Strange for a man who hops from one lady to another on a whim, but therein lies the paradox. He isn’t your usual flashy/brash playboy, rather an introspective one. His dream is to work on more realistic content and have the TV station be taken seriously, for a change.

When his father dies suddenly, the man’s will reveals that he wishes for his son to marry ‘the most beautiful girl in the world’. All things considered, it’s quite the stupid stipulation; how is one to interpret something so vague? Reuben must wed this woman in six months in order to retain his vast inheritance. And to ensure that nothing is staged, a committee headed by his father’s friend and spiritual advisor will be formed to verify legitimacy. Everything, with the exception of Reuben’s childhood, sounds very cliché, doesn’t it? While The Most Beautiful Girl in the World toes that line more than once, it explores ‘the coming together of two people always at cross purposes’ better than a large proportion of films in the genre.

Kiara (Sheila Dara Aisha) is a junior producer on the same network and harbours big dreams. She wishes, one day, to own her own place. Much like Reuben, whom she has scant respect for, her focus is on programmes that are intelligent and thought-provoking. Their overall outlook may have some overlap but their methods are vastly different. Kiara balks at the idea of Reuben being the bachelor on the TV network’s successful dating show, with it culminating in him choosing his new wife. His plan is to make a relatable show that isn’t staged. Contestants are not cast; they are to register if they wish to participate. Intelligence, life goals and compatibility form the criteria for the cut, as opposed to the regular, sexist way of choosing women based solely on appearance. Though not totally convinced of Reuben’s intentions, Kiara agrees to produce the show.

While Reuben’s abandonment issues don’t exactly scream originality, its portrayal is realistic enough to see why he is the way he is. The film blurs the line between the unnecessary drama of a run-of-the-mill dating show and that of the complicated feelings of those closely associated with it. Kiara wants more from life and is unwilling to settle for just anything. Reuben, from the outside, represents all that she detests – a selfish person who places his own feelings above everyone else’s, with no regard for the consequences of his actions. Through the course of the film, she manages to get him to acknowledge his own privilege. His way of drawing parallels to every bad situation with his mother leaving, is also questioned. It is this growth that gives The Most Beautiful Girl in the World an engaging quality. Unlike a host of contemporaneous films in the genre, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World makes it a point not to strip the woman lead of her agency. Kiara’s aspirations are as central to the plot as Reuben’s. These may all be bare-minimum expectations of the writers’ room, but the bar is that low, sadly.   

In the grand scheme of romantic cliche, it is the acting of the leads that renders the film its realism. While it is not outstanding by any stretch, it remains watchable for the earnestness with which it pushes its simple agenda. Just when you feel you have gotten its measure,The Most Beautiful Girl in the World throws up a surprise or two. And for that, it must be acknowledged.