Why did it get made? And how much did its gifted cast of big names have to be paid to enable them to suspend disbelief and commit themselves to such a concentrated dose of drivel?

Collateral Beauty sets a record: it is probably the worst movie each of these fine actors will ever do.

Despite its quality cast and slick visuals, the result is sombre and saccharine rather than uplifting.

By the end, swerves are attempted to course-correct the manipulation and play with the notion and interpretation of those three abstractions being the real deal.