Summary
Robert Ronny’s film is a captivating Indonesian romance that balances a sleazy reality dating show twist with a heartfelt quest for genuine love, though it sometimes falls into familiar rom-com clichés.
To my surprise, at least four movie titles are titled The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. So, I want to clarify that I’m talking about the 2025 Netflix Indonesian film directed by Robert Ronny.
The story unfolds with a twist, following the journey of a playboy and a company executive, Reuben (played by Reza Rahadian, as seen in 24 Hours with Gaspar), who is compelled to orchestrate a dating show to secure his deceased father’s inheritance. The catch? His father’s will stipulates that he must marry “the most beautiful girl in the world” to inherit and take over his TV production company.
This sets the stage for Reuben to revamp his father’s most popular and sleazy reality show, which shares the same title as the movie.
In the reality dating show in the film, an eligible bachelor can pick what he deems is the most beautiful girl, but the movie alludes that this is mostly scripted. This show, which Reuben is forced to reformat, is a key element of the plot. It raises an overriding theme: how can a wealthy millionaire playboy about to absorb his father’s wealth make a dating reality show that involves finding his wife genuine? How can a man, void of authentic dating experiences, find a true connection?
Step in Kiara (played by Sheila Dara Aisha), the assistant producer turned producer of the dating show. The Netflix film makes it strongly apparent that Kiara has little interest in Reuben’s playboy antics despite being her boss. She doesn’t want to produce the dating show, believing it will not provide authentic results.
And that’s where the “boy meets girl” concept shines through in The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. Like me, viewers will be attracted to the dynamic between Reuben and Kiara, who seemingly, at first, appear to irritate each other.
Sheila Dara Aisha and Reza Rahadian deliver a captivating performance, exuding fantastic chemistry on screen. Sheila’s portrayal of the career-driven producer, disillusioned with a male-dominated world but open to being softened by the right man, is compelling. Reza’s depiction of the conflicted playboy, who at times pities himself despite his privileged position, is equally engaging. Their on-screen dynamic kept me hooked.
The most interesting aspect of The Most Beautiful Girl in the World is the launch of the reformatted dating reality show. Reuben must authentically find a wife while his genuine love interest, Kiara, must navigate the non-scripted environment. The second and third acts are pivotal turning points in the Indonesian romance, as the two leads are forced into a scenario they would not imagine.
Despite the potential for the film to lose its charm midway, director Robert Ronny keeps the feel-good romance engaging and at a steady pace. He cleverly uses the lead’s chemistry to tease the audience with the possibilities. While the story may lack realism and veer towards the corny, its sweet and endearing nature and the director’s ability to maintain intrigue hold the narrative together.
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World keeps it relatively PG, bringing an element of traditionalism, which I appreciated. Often, these days, romance movies are all about the “steaminess” that leads to connection, but I often much prefer a drama where the characters are eager to work on themselves, find healthy habits, and find the right partner in the process. While the characters are not consciously spelling out their shortcomings in this film, it’s implied, and we can only assume it is subconscious in their psyche.
This Indonesian film is not only about romance but also about values and authentic living. The story surrounding Reuben, a wealthy playboy, seems ideal, but the director convinced me that even someone like him can heal family wounds and find something real for himself. The film encourages viewers to consider what it means to live authentically and to be true to oneself and others. Thus, this film is a worthwhile romance that is a must-watch.
Read More: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World Ending Explained
