In A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, director Kogonada crafts a visually striking and ambitious romantic drama that pairs Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell in a tale of love, self-discovery, and second chances. The film’s premise—a chance encounter between two strangers on a cross-country adventure, each grappling with their own emotional baggage—is undeniably beautiful. It promises a heartfelt exploration of human connection, and intimate moments.
The film’s story unfolds as David (Farrell) and Sarah (Robbie), each grappling with personal baggage, lease cars from an eccentric rental agency run by quirky proprietors (Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Kevin Kline). This sets the stage for a metaphysical journey, guided by an unusual GPS that leads them through “magical doorways” to relive pivotal moments from their pasts. Reiss’s dialogue is sharp and authentic, with poignant reflections on how past experiences shape present identities. The road-trip structure is enriched by these surreal detours, each revealing new layers of the characters’ emotional landscapes.
Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell deliver captivating performances, their chemistry both tender and electric. Robbie’s Sarah guarded exterior slowly unraveling as she confronts old wounds, but she still maintains her signature charm. Farrell’s David, a man wrestling with self-doubt, is equally layered, his dry humor and soulful depth grounding the film’s more fantastical elements.
The screenplay, while poetic at times, is where A Big Bold Beautiful Journey stumbled for me. The characters’ backstories, though intriguing, feels like it’s reaching for a deeper emotional resonance that the script doesn’t fully support. The result is a story that’s pleasant but not as moving as it could be.
Despite its flaws, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is still an enjoyable watch, largely due to Margot Robbie’s stellar performance and the film’s undeniable charm. It’s not a conventional romcom but a layered meditation on how confronting the past can open the door to a bolder future. This is a date-night movie with substance, a rare blend of romance, comedy, and existential insight.
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