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There is no getting round the facts. Sugar-sweet romance A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a film about a magic GPS operated by cosmic matchmakers in the guise of a car-hire firm. In fairness, the movie doesn’t try to hide it. Endless hyper-whimsy is made a selling point, second only to stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell.
The pair play singles Sarah and David, the latter driving back from a wedding when his rental car addresses him by name. Would he like to take exactly the trip promised by the title? By extension, of course, we’re being asked too. The movie brims with such self-aware flourishes. Pause before you answer is my advice.
Join the ride, and the rest is a fantastical road trip with Farrell’s charming but self-contained David, and Robbie’s sparky, troubled Sarah. Mutually attracted — wouldn’t you be? — they are led by the satnav to a string of immersive flashbacks filled with deep personal meaning. Thus our potential lovers learn the secrets of each other’s psyches. Like a year of dating, in other words, without the restaurant bills or sex.
The movie is PG chaste, though not afraid to ogle at Robbie and Farrell’s chemistry. Everything in sight is set to dazzle. Director Kogonada made a fine debut with Columbus (2017), a lovely film largely about buildings. His new project sings with colour, light and gorgeous symmetries. It also feels like the kind of architectural vision so perfect, you can sense the regret that people have to come and clutter it up.
The mess of human life is celebrated in the script. Like the idea of Robbie and Farrell as teenage nerds, you struggle to buy it. Beautiful the movie is, and dotted with insight. But once we get to the heart of the story, you may crave something bigger and bolder, not to mention less banal. The problem isn’t so much the constant creative jazz hands, but the mismatch between the promise to blow our minds, and a flat emotional pay-off. Still, the film is clearly certain it will soon be someone’s favourite movie. Just not mine.
★★★☆☆
In UK and US cinemas from September 19