A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

No one's going to accuse acclaimed indie filmmaker Kogonada of not taking a big swing with his feature film iteration of Seth Reiss's screenplay but sadly for all the visual beauty and well-intentioned life lessons A Big Bold Beautiful Journey has, it's not enough to save this overtly sappy and too often ill-advised escapade from itself.

The type of film that is going to divide a large portion of its audience between the willing admirers and those that can't stomach the film all the way to the end credits, Journey is an unashamedly fanciful film that wears its heart on its sleeve for better and worse and while Kogonada's commitment to the cause can be commended, it's clear to see on end result that the talented director got the balance wrong this time around.

Destined to be one of the years more notable big studio bombs despite the presence of two well-liked A-list stars in the form of Colin Farrell (here ending his recent hot streak) and Margot Robbie, there's a universe where Journey might just have been balanced perfectly between the whimsical, the philosophical, the heartfelt and the fantastical but while you can see what Journey is trying to do you never really feel it, the beating heart that was important for its success always held at arm's length, as we are instead taken on an aesthetically pleasing but hollow road trip to nowhere.

Asking a lot of Farrell and Robbie, who are required to do all the films heavy lifting acting wise, with the two doing perfectly fine considering the script they are bringing to life and the scenarios they are thrust into that are often mere inches away from veering into extremely trite territory, Journey gets some decent moments between the two leads and some of their banter and interplay stands out amongst the films more clumsy segments but it's not enough to drive Journey forward to become the tale it was seen to be when it found its way onto the Black List of unmade screenplays.

A huge anchor to Journey's overall traversing of its waters is the fact that Kogonada and Reiss aren't at all interested in explaining in any great depth the reasoning behind so much of their films fantasy elements.

We as audience members shouldn't always be expected to have our information spoon fed to us and I'm a great believer as many others are that sometimes leaving some questions unanswered or interpretation open to discussion is a good thing but Journey takes those sentiments a little too far with many likely to be left frustrated by the endgame of Kogonada's film that feels more like a cop out than a powerful statement, making much of what has come before far less impactful than it might have been for those that endured the time to get there.

Final Say -

An undoubtedly well-meaning film that has some undeniably important and impactful messages to deliver, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a wonderfully crafted but emotionally empty feature film experience that never quite finds its own self amongst its many grand ideas and concepts.

2 Whoppers out of 5.

This is a very special movie. It feels like a combination of a theater play and a film, simple backgrounds, minimal effects, maybe 10 main actors with significant speaking roles and the rest as extras. But the main actors are incredible.

It's a very deep film and it's definitely worth watching in a cinema. I feel this movie truly needs the big screen and the atmosphere of a theater to pull you in. It feels like an intense therapy session, making you reflect deeply on your own life.

I wouldn't recommend it for teenagers, because I think you need a certain level of maturity to appreciate it fully. But it's a movie parents should watch to reconnect with themselves, their past, their history and their experiences.

I loved the film, but I also understand it may not be for everyone. It challenges you to think: about the roles life assigns, about your own choices and about how different decisions might have shaped your life.

A very Good film. Good performances by Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie. The lines, and the unpredictability of it, make it good. Every twist and turn with the characters, make it interesting. Maybe too long in some parts, which could lead the spectator feel a little bit of boredom or just "get on with it". But still, Colin Farell and Margot Robbie make a good pair in this dramatic romance. It doesn't leave you disappointed. At least I wasn't.

Some people will hate it.

(I've read the reviews here, and they do) But if your interests encompass more than sequels and multiverses you could really like this. I didn't really know what to expect from the trailer it looks like a romcom and it isn't, really.

There is an interesting dynamic between the two of them, I really did feel like they were on that big bold beautiful journey, and that I got to travel some of it with them.

The family scenes with both characters will really hit home to anyone who remembers when they discovered that their parents were mortal.

Beautifully shot, a bit dark in the colour palette for me.

It's a film about grief, letting go and trying to move on.

I'm still thinking about it, and thinking I want to go see it again because I think I missed something that could help.

Greetings again from the darkness. I'm not normally the target market for romantic philosophy-of-life movies, so it seems apropos that one I connect with is likely to be labeled maudlin or sappy by others. Being a big fan of director Kogonada's underrated COLUMBUS (2017), I was interested to see him team up again with his AFTER YANG (2021) star Colin Farrell, in a blacklist script from writer Seth Reiss (THE MENU, 2022).

Matching Colin Farrell with Margot Robbie means that, at a minimum, beautiful movie stars will fill the screen. Beyond their stunning looks, both are extremely talented actors - Farrell has certainly honed his skill over the years, while Robbie is a modern day Grace Kelly. David and Sarah first meet each other at a wedding. The attraction is there, but this encounter ends awkwardly with each going their separate way. We learn they are quasi-miserable lonely souls who see little hope in finding a true soulmate - the message here being that nothing should be assumed until one's own soul-searching is complete.

The world's most bizarre Rental Car counter is staffed by two quirky characters played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge ("Fleabag") and Kevin Kline. A fantastical GPS system in their matching 1994 Saturns finds David and Sarah ordering the same 'fast food cheeseburger' at a roadside diner. This is step one in their titular journey ... so named as David screams it while driving. Now traveling in the same Saturn, this GPS directs them to a series of doors - each connected to some past moment of their lives. A red door leads to a lighthouse, another to a high school musical production, one to a special museum, and yet another to hospital visits. It's part trip down memory lane and part spiritual awakening.

What matters is that David and Sarah are sharing the journey with each other - good memories and bad. Stepping through the doors exposes bits of their life and personality that might take years for two in a relationship to discover, if ever they would. Dealing with one's own past is a first step in moving forward, much less in accepting another to share a life with. Regrets, missed opportunities, grief, and hurdles are all part of what make us who we are. Supporting cast members include Lily Rabe, Billy Magnussen, Jodi Turner-Smith, and Sarah Gadon. Hamish Linklater nails his one crucial scene as David's dad ... surprisingly, it's the film's best scene. Whether it's viewed as a search for one's own soul or for a soulmate, the film deals with the baggage that goes with being a grown-up.

Exclusively in theaters beginning September 19, 2025.