A Big Bold Beautiful Journey review

A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY:

ROMANTIC FANTASY DOESN’T REALLY LIVE UP TO ITS TITLE! 

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** out of 4

COLUMBIA PICTURES

Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

 

            Margot Robbie (DC Extended Universe, I, Tonya, Barbie) and Colin Farrell (In Bruges, The Banshees of Inisherin, The Penguin) embark on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, a romantic fantasy film from director Kogonada (Columbus, After Yang). The movie looked interesting from the trailers though I’ve had plenty of instances where I thought that and the film ended up being a huge letdown after seeing it like with Robert Zemeckis’ Here last year. 

            But I love these two actors a lot and one of which was just in the biggest comedy movie of all time a couple years ago so putting them together in a film seemed perfect. Well, I’m glad to say that they were at least incredibly charming in this…because man, this movie squandered a legitimately fascinating premise especially for a romance film. 

            A movie where two people find magical doors that lead to places/moments from their pasts and they discover more about each other through them, this sounds great and could have been a fresh, unique film in this genre. Unfortunately, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey relies on the laziest of genre tropes and clichés so it never reaches its full potential that I and likely many other moviegoers had hoped for. 

            The film follows David (Farrell) and Sarah (Robbie), two complete strangers who find themselves on a fantastical journey after discovering several mysterious doors that allow them to relive moments from their pasts and maybe also change the future. During their grand adventure, David and Sarah learn that some doors bring you to the past, some lead you to your future, and some doors change everything. 

            The film also stars Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda, In & Out, Bob’s Burgers) as The Mechanic, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (The Iron Lady, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as Female Cashier, Lily Rabe (All Good Things, American Horror Story, Vice) as Sarah’s mother, Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim, The Last Ship, Bad Monkey) as the voice of the GPS, Billy Magnussen (Bridge of Spies, Aladdin (2019), No Time to Die) as The Man, Sarah Gadon (A Dangerous Method, Enemy, Belle (2013)) as The Woman, Brandon Perea (The OA, Nope, Twisters) as Mike, Chloe East (Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, The Fabelmans, Heretic) as Cheryl, Hamish Linklater (The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Big Short, Legion) as David’s father, Calahan Skogman (Shadow and Bone) as Sarah’s Groomsman, Jacqueline Novak (Inside Amy Schumer, Animals, Soft Focus with Jena Friedman) as Stacy Dunn, Jennifer Grant (Beverly Hills, 90210, Movie Stars, Babylon) as David’s mother, and Shelby Simmons (Bunk’d, Stargirl, Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rides Again) as Stage Manager. 

            Overall, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey could have lived up to its name as a very imaginative and heartfelt romance film, sadly it wastes its premise on tired clichés and at times awkward moments despite two very likable leads in the spotlight. I didn’t hate this movie nor did it make me angry during my viewing (Then again, I hardly felt any emotions as I was watching it), but aside from some occasionally creative scenes and Robbie and Farrell’s chemistry, this was a dull slog. 

            When Farrell and Robbie aren’t in one of their past events through a magic door, they’re driving around in bleak and visually dull environments for long stretches of time with dialogue that sometimes works and other times is just made up of clichéd romance movie quotes (“I haven’t found the right one yet!”, “Stay away from me, I ruin men’s lives!”, etc.). I’m grateful that Farrell and Robbie are such naturally likable leads and do have decent chemistry with each other amidst the lackluster material, but anything good about them does not come from the script. 

            The movie just feels so artificial with its storytelling, star-crossed lovers conveniently meet up at fancy event because yes, misunderstanding where the characters mope and dope that drags on at the end of the second act when you know they’re going to get back together because yes, ending scene where the man and the woman are sitting on an apartment building porch because clearly the Venom movie handled that so well so it’s perfect for this. Had the movie spent more time on its high-concept premise and explored the themes surrounding it, I think we could have had something on par with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Spike Jonze’s Her, unfortunately they dropped the ball. 

            A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is the most nothing movie I’ve seen all year and completely wastes Farrell and Robbie’s talents as well as an interesting premise and focuses more on tropes we’ve seen a million times in other, better romance films. It did, however, give me the strangest scene set in a car rental agency that feels like it’s from a stage show…I certainly wasn’t high while watching it yet it still felt odd, I guess that’s something. 

            Go find something else for date night, couples! Also, worst Burger King product placement since Men in Black II!