An Emotional, Life-Affirming "Journey"

Colin Farrell & Margot Robbie

 A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is the kind of film that lingers in your mind after the credits roll. It's a story about the decisions we've made throughout our lives, and how those choices informed the person we turned out to be. The movie tells the story of David and Sarah, two strangers who meet at a wedding, though they don't "meet cute" or get together in tried and true romantic comedy fashion. Following the wedding, thanks to a mystical GPS (just go with it), and some car trouble for Sarah, the two end up taking an amazing journey together, which ends up changing their lives forever.

That otherworldly GPS takes David and Sarah on a "big, bold beautiful journey," guiding them through a series of magical doors, which allow them to relive important moments from their lives. Reliving these key episodes from their younger days inspires them to reconsider those pivotal moments, and think about the consequences of their choices. Can they move beyond their past experiences and find real love in their lives? The performances by Colin Farrell as David and Margot Robbie as Sarah are excellent. They subtly convey the sense that David and Sarah's lives are not just made up of memories, adding depth to their characters without needing a ton of overt exposition.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey deftly illustrates what these characters discover about themselves on their journey, and how they are inexorably changed along the way. The movie is thoughtful, visually compelling, and deeply emotional. It takes some big swings thematically and plot-wise, and if it occasionally stumbles, it's still a journey well worth taking. The movie's solid direction is by Kogonada, the colorful cinematography is by Benjamin Loeb, and the insightful script is written by Seth Reiss.

While some critics and viewers have derided the film as too predictable and overly sentimental, I think the spiritual themes and emotional tone of the film are one of its strengths. We can all relate to David and Sarah's journey, and that's what makes the movie and its themes so compelling. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is now available on disc, as well as for viewing on various digital platforms and streaming services. Here's a look at the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t9cPtA9St0.