Colin Farrell is back in another romantic fantasy film more than a decade after starring in 2014’s “Winter’s Tale.” Thankfully, this movie is better, but… that’s a really low bar.
Farrell’s latest film features him in a role opposite fellow Academy Award nominee Margot Robbie. In “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” both Farrell’s David and Robbie’s Sarah are single and end up mingling at the wedding of a mutual friend.
After the ceremony, Sarah’s rental car breaks down, and she ends up getting a ride from David, who picked up his own vehicle from the same mysterious agency. The car’s GPS then guides the two on a mystical adventure.
This film, in a paradoxical way, is both too fantastical and not fantastical enough. The world the characters live in seems, for the most part, to be completely normal. As a result, when the film gets into the more mystical elements, it never really fits, or makes much sense for that matter.
There are time traveling doors the characters go through, yet there are no tangible rules to this universe. It’s too bad, because a more fantastical or surreal approach can work successfully to explore the human condition and relationships.
Some recent examples include “Black Bear” and “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” from 2020, as well as 2023’s “Poor Things.” Or, a film can be more grounded, and have a lighter fantasy approach with more internal consistency, which worked in 2013’s “About Time,” another film with a time travel concept.
What’s at play in “Beautiful Journey,” though, is played far too loosely, without vision or structure. Nothing feels dreamlike or other worldly, so the magic isn’t there. At the same time, the fantastical trips down memory lane are often so far from realism that they end up less meaningful.
The mishandling of its fantasy element stands out the most, but it’s not the only issue the movie is dealing with. It also doesn’t help that the movie’s development of the central relationship never really feels quite natural. Seth Reiss’ script often lets the characters down with stilted, awkward dialogue for its characters, and much of the attempted humor falls flat.
In addition to the failed pushes at comedy, with no example better than the filmmakers thinking a person swearing with a German accent is hilarious, the picture piles too much exploration of past trauma on its characters. It’s fine that the movie included moments in the two characters’ past so they could learn about each other, but it all seemed to be during their low moments.
It didn’t give them as many times to just hang out, have fun, and build a relationship. With all of that said, though, “Journey” isn’t a total loss. A few moments of humor do work, and it does strongly benefit from having a pair of Academy Award nominees.
While the material isn’t fantastic, both performers make the most out of it and end up elevating the experience. That’s especially true in a few emotional scenes that are effective.
“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” is one of those movies that began with a good premise but things went wrong in the execution. A few scenes do work emotionally and its two talented leads certainly do their best to hold things together. However, the poor management of fantasy elements and a lackluster relationship sink this romance flick. 2.25 out of 5.
Matthew Liedke on Film 