I often feel like it’s unfair of me to remark upon the inherent flaws I see when it comes to movies about impossibly attractive movie stars having relationship issues in plotlines that dare to be treated seriously. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, if anything, should be celebrated for being an original romantic fantasy film directed by an acclaimed arthouse filmmaker, yet coming out of a major studio. Should I care that it seems unlikely that stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell would have this much trouble deciding they should attempt to be together? I suppose not if I want to watch a movie unfold. That said, having seen the film unfold, while it fulfilled the promises of big and beautiful (and we do watch the characters go on a journey together), I felt this movie was lacking a lot in the way of boldness when it came time to challenge anything that could actually shake up my initial perspective when the film first started.
To be clear, I’m a big fan of what director Kogonada (After Yang) has offered up so far, which similarly relied on slower-paced stories that look at the conditions on which relationships are based, whether they are romantic, parental, or otherwise. At the same time, here’s a director who treats film like art exhibits in terms of a deliberate sense of style, often tricking one into believing he aims for minimalism when his movies, in fact, inhabit a lot more expression than some may assume at first. Whatever the case, letting him explore a broader sense of space thanks to a larger budget and an expansive cast of movie stars, recognizable faces, and character actors for the sake of a fantastical feature does feel like an interesting challenge for him to take on.
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The story focuses on David (Farrell) and Sarah (Robbie), strangers who meet at the wedding of mutual friends. They both rented cars from a curious rental agency to arrive at the wedding, and wouldn’t you know it, the GPS installed in their vehicles essentially guides them toward each other, and then takes them on a journey, allowing them to look into various points of time in each other’s lives. Given Sarah’s insistence that she’s only going to hurt David in the long run, will these two be able to take away more from these experiences that will allow them to look past the actual past and embrace a more positive future?
Whether or not the answer is obvious, this should be more about how much one appreciates the journey (however big, bold, and beautiful it may be) that we watch these characters go on. Writer Seth Reiss (The Menu) certainly puts a lot of ideas out there, with a script that feels like it took lots of notes from Defending Your Life, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, A Matter of Life and Death, and even Danny Boyle’s A Life Less Ordinary. Combined with Kogonada’s touch, however, I’m not sure this film ultimately found the right way in which to let this journey unfold.
Early on, this film provides plenty of quirk. Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kevin Kline unexpectedly show up as the proprietors of the car rental agency, with Waller-Bridge adding a sense of humor (complete with an odd but amusing reliance on F-bombs) to help get her points across when it comes to renting an automobile. Even the layout of the wedding, which takes place on a sunny day, and yet it’s pouring down rain, allows the film to establish clear color pallets and other visual motifs that make it clear we’re in a heightened reality. Does the film need a high amount of eccentricity to work? No, but it is these choices that feel as though they’ll make a difference once things really get underway with the plot. Sadly, it just feels off-balance.
For all the time-hopping we witness, even with the lo-fi approach of just letting Robbie and Farrell always look like themselves, no matter what age they are supposed to be, these areas that should be more exciting often fall flat. Whether it’s because two characters have to share the spotlight when it comes to exploring their backstories in such detail or due to the fairly flimsy stakes at the center of this story, no matter how many solid performances we see in the form of extended cameos popping up in different times, I can’t say I was every more drawn in, let alone concerned for how this was going to shape up.
Even if one were to try to say it comes down to genre preference, I’d call it both dismissive and misleading. There are plenty of modern romance stories out there to enjoy, whether it is presented straightforwardly or combined with some fantastical element. That’s not the issue here. Instead, with only so much to attach to when it comes to the journey presented, we really have to hope that the chemistry between Robbie and Farrell is more than just fine. We should be aching to hope these two find a connection and a way to work things out to be together. What we’re given, however, are two characters that have chemistry, yet act as though that chemistry has been dulled down due to years of having already been together. Suffice to say, the hopes of these two getting together come with the notion that it will feel fine but not that exciting.
The true shame is that the film is otherwise well put together. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey may not have strengths based on these characters. Still, it is shot well, features bold production design choices, and, most notably, features the first American film score from Joe Hisaishi, best known for his collaborations with animation legend Hayao Miyazaki. Thoughts on the storytelling aside, it’s a wonderful score that suits a good-looking movie.
Whether or not going smaller or continuing to be the primary writer on his own work is the best move for Kogonada, I had wished better for A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Sadly, the film has everything it needs to deliver on various fronts. Still, it isn’t exactly exciting enough or doing anything more than what’s more or less expected. Yes, even while serving as an original feature opening alongside a world of IP adaptations, it’s unfortunate not to get more from what’s being offered here. Hopefully, the next journey amps up the amount of boldness on display, as we’re well aware of what’s being accomplished when it comes to delivering something beautiful.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey opens in theaters on September 19, 2025.
