Review | A Big Bold Beautiful Journey
Are you ready for the journey?
It’s usually best going into a story without knowing anything, but sometimes a hint of perspective can be good before the story begins. In this case, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is detached from reality. Of course, anyone who has seen the trailer surely knows this. But, whether intended or not, even perceived reality is detached — and it was a bit jarring for the first third of the film.
If I had the chance to go through the experience again for the first time, I would’ve liked to have gone into the auditorium with this thought: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (the film itself) is like a dream. If I had that inkling in my mind, I believe I might have enjoyed the set up for the journey more.
From the moment the film begins to its last frame, it feels like a dream. Like a real dream though where you find yourself lost in a series of vignettes and nothing really makes sense. Like your unconscious mind is trying to work through problems of the conscious mind.
While it was hard to believe that Colin Farrell‘s David and Margot Robbie‘s Sarah are truly falling in love with one another, the film does find its moments where both their characters and you, the audience, connect in real beautiful ways. In particular, the relationship between Sarah and her mother, and the relationship between David and his father are highlights.
What made the first act of the film so difficult for me was how strange and awkward David and Sarah are when they first meet as guests at a wedding. They first catch each other’s eye as the bride walks down a rain soaked aisle. The guests all standing with their umbrellas as a hard rain pours down on the ceremony. We then jump to a scene where the bride is hugging David and is then officially introduced to Sarah, who just happens to be standing next to him. The groom then awkwardly makes a comment about having to make the rounds because they are now married. We never learn who these newlyweds are or what connects our main characters to them. We're just dropped in the middle – sort of like a dream.
It is especially at this wedding where none of David and Sarah’s exchanged dialogue feels realistic and their micro-motivations are eyebrow-raising. It's almost as if they are forcing themselves to be drawn to one another – both emotionally and physically as they talk outside of the wedding reception.
Once their journey together truly begins with a fast food burger at a Burger King (shameless product placement), the film starts to give itself some legs. While the dialogue remains intermittently cringe-worthy, you are able to finally get caught up in their individual stories and the one they are navigating together in this journey.
Looking back on the picture, I feel focusing on the "love story" between David and Sarah does the overall story a disservice. This journey is about connection; about being seen and accepted as you truly are by another soul. It's the beginnings of a love story that focuses on two lost and somewhat broken people who first need to unpack their baggage so they can love who they are as individuals first. It is only then that they can actually fall in love with one another. Additionally, I would’ve liked it to have been more balanced on both main characters throughout instead of leaning so much on David.
All that being said, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey was an enjoyable film worthy of the adventure. Just prepare yourself for some exchanging of words that are not said by people in the waking world.