There is a specific kind of cinematic magic that happens when a filmmaker known for quiet, meticulous observation steps onto a larger stage without losing their soul. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) is exactly that moment for director Kogonada. Known for the architectural grace of Columbus and the gentle futurism of After Yang, Kogonada returns to the screen with a production that feels like a hand-painted postcard brought to life. Written by Seth Reiss, the scribe behind the biting satire of The Menu, this film takes a decidedly softer, more whimsical turn. Produced by Columbia Pictures and 30West, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, the film arrived in theaters on September 19, 2025. Despite its mid-budget feel, it has carved out a respectable space at the box office, currently sitting at $20.2 million as it finds its audience through word of mouth.
The film centers on two single strangers, Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell), who find themselves at the same wedding reception. What follows is not a standard romantic comedy but a fantastical road trip through the landscape of their own lives. Equipped with a mysterious rental car and a seemingly omniscient GPS, they are guided through a series of literal doors that open into defining moments from their respective pasts. This matters because it attempts to answer a question many of us have asked: if we could revisit our most painful or formative memories with someone new by our side, would we finally be able to move forward? It is a bold, ambitious premise that relies entirely on the audience’s willingness to surrender to its logic.
Story and Screenplay: A Metaphysical First Date
The narrative quality of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is built on a foundation of magical realism that manages to feel both expansive and incredibly intimate. Seth Reiss’s script functions as a sort of therapeutic-metaphysic first date. Instead of the usual small talk about hobbies or careers, Sarah and David are forced to bypass the "performance art" of early dating. By literally walking into each other’s history, they confront the versions of themselves they usually try to hide. The structure is episodic, moving from one memory door to the next, yet it maintains a sense of forward momentum because the stakes are purely emotional. We aren't watching them try to save the world; we are watching them try to save themselves from a lifetime of self-sabotage and guardedness.
Pacing and rhythm are handled with a gentle touch, though the film does occasionally linger in its own whimsy. The first act sets a brisk, intriguing tone as the mystery of the car rental agency (led by a wonderfully quirky duo) unfolds. However, the middle section adopts the meandering quality of a real road trip. While these long conversations are where Kogonada’s trademark empathy shines brightest, some viewers might find the lack of traditional plot obstacles frustrating. The originality here lies in how the film treats its fantasy elements. There is no clunky world-building or long-winded explanations about how the doors work. The "Hows" and "Whys" are treated as irrelevant, which allows the script to focus entirely on the themes of memory and connection.
The script’s greatest strength is its ability to turn internal baggage into a physical landscape. However, it is not without its weaknesses. The dialogue occasionally teeters on being aggressively "twee" or simplistic, and a pivotal decision in the final leg to separate the leads has been a point of contention. Some may feel that the ending feels a bit rushed or even inauthentic to the character growth established in the first two acts. Yet, even when the writing feels a bit thin, the overarching concept of revisiting the past to alter the future remains a compelling hook that anchors the entire experience.
Acting and Characters: Chemistry in the Clarendon Filter
The success of a two-hander like this depends almost entirely on the leads, and the pairing of Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell is a stroke of genius. Farrell, reuniting with Kogonada after their work on After Yang, delivers a beautifully nuanced performance as David. He is an "Irish old soul," a man who is clearly weary of being alone but terrified of being hurt again. There is a show-stopping sequence set at a high school musical where Farrell fully commits to the awkwardness and raw emotion of his younger self. He manages to look both giddy and heartbroken, capturing that rare sensation of feeling a memory as if it were happening for the first time.
Margot Robbie provides a perfect, prickly counterpoint as Sarah. While David is the more overtly romantic of the two, Sarah’s walls are fortified with sharp wit and a healthy dose of skepticism. Robbie taps into a level of vulnerability that we rarely see from her, allowing the audience to see the commitment issues that lie beneath her luminous exterior. The character development is subtle; it is less about a total transformation and more about the "thawing" of two people who have spent too long performing for others. The chemistry between them is immediate but complicated, burdened by the literal and metaphorical baggage they carry in their rental car trunk.
The supporting cast, though small, adds significant texture to the world. Kevin Kline and Phoebe Waller-Bridge appear as the car rental clerks, serving as the gatekeepers of this journey. Their performances are filled with quirky energy, particularly Waller-Bridge’s enthusiastically profane delivery. Additionally, Jodie Turner-Smith provides the voice of the GPS, an enigmatic presence that guides the leads with a tone that is part mentor, part sentient machine. These cameos help ground the fantastical elements in a world that feels lived-in and slightly off-kilter.
Direction and Technical Aspects: Meticulous Design and Cinematic Nods
Kogonada’s vision for this film is a departure from his earlier, more grounded work, yet his signature style is woven into every frame. The director’s fascination with meticulously designed worlds is evident in what some critics have called a "Pinterest board chic" aesthetic. The film exists in a polished facsimile of reality, often looking as though it has been viewed through a warm, nostalgic filter. This visual storytelling is crucial because it contrasts the beautiful, manufactured surroundings with the sobering, often messy reality of the characters’ memories.
The cinematography and visual composition are breathtaking. Kogonada employs a deep knowledge of film history, offering cheeky winks to masters like Federico Fellini and Jacques Demy. One specific shot of David and Sarah standing on opposite ends of a wedding portico, slowly walking toward each other, echoes the extreme care and architectural framing seen in Columbus. The use of color is equally deliberate. Costume designer Arjun Bhasin ensures that the leads’ clothing shifts to match the thematic tone of each memory door. Whether it is a gray outfit for a traumatic hospital visit or a red jumper that echoes the signage of a fast-food restaurant, the visual palette is constantly communicating with the audience.
Production design plays a major role in establishing the film’s "handcrafted whimsy." The GPS system itself is a marvel of design, featuring a dial shaped like a film reel and a red light that serves as a nod to HAL 9000. The use of literal doors in the middle of lush green landscapes or unexpected public spaces creates a sense of magical realism that is both simple and effective. It is a film that uses its technical aspects not just for spectacle, but to reinforce the idea that life is a performance that we are all constantly rehearsing.
Music and Atmosphere: Minimalist Magic and Jarring Notes
The atmosphere of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is heavily dictated by its score, provided by the legendary Joe Hisaishi. Known for his iconic collaborations with Studio Ghibli, Hisaishi delivers a soundtrack that is more minimalist but no less transportive. The music captures the delicate, gentle emotions of the film, providing a sense of wonder that perfectly matches Kogonada’s visual style. When the score is allowed to lead, the film feels truly magical, wrapping the audience in a blanket of soulful, melodic empathy.
However, the audio experience is not without its stumbles. Several critics have pointed out a few "needle drops"—contemporary pop songs—that feel completely at odds with Hisaishi’s score. These moments feel more like the result of studio intervention than a creative choice by the director. One particularly on-the-nose song near the conclusion threatens to flatten the emotional catharsis of the scene. Despite these jarring transitions, the overall sound design is fantastic, utilizing the sounds of rain and the ambient noise of the various memory locations to create an immersive, dreamlike mood.
The overall tone is one of heart-on-its-sleeve sentimentality. It is a film that asks you to be open and willing to feel something lovely. For those who can succumb to its earnestness, the atmosphere is incredibly rewarding. It manages to be sweet without being saccharine, and cute without becoming overly "twee." The music and sound design work together to create a space where David and Sarah can finally let down their guard.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What works well:
- Lead Performances: Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie have incredible chemistry and bring a deep sense of humanity to their high-concept roles.
- Visual Homages: The film is a love letter to cinema, with beautiful nods to Jacques Demy, Makoto Shinkai, and Paul Thomas Anderson.
- Joe Hisaishi’s Score: The minimalist music provides a transportive quality that elevates the more emotional sequences.
- The High School Musical Sequence: A standout moment that perfectly captures the "giddy pain" of revisiting a first heartbreak.
- Handcrafted Whimsy: The production design and the literal use of "memory doors" create a unique and memorable aesthetic.
What doesn't work:
- Divisive Ending: The third act decision to separate the leads feels authentic to some but jarring and rushed to others.
- Needle Drops: A few misplaced pop songs break the immersive, transportive mood established by the orchestral score.
- Twee Dialogue: Some of the writing feels a bit too simplistic or overly precious, particularly in the car rental agency scenes.
- Lack of Narrative Stakes: Viewers looking for a traditional plot with clear antagonists might find the meandering road trip format a bit too slow.
Trailer Merv (2025)
Final Verdict: A Journey Worth Taking
Rating: 4/5 stars
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is a film that understands the damage we do to ourselves by being unforgiving of our own pasts. It is a rare studio-backed project that feels intensely personal, a sweeping romantic fantasy that manages to find the truth within a fabricated reality. While it may struggle with its landing and a few executive-mandated musical choices, the core of the film remains a glowing example of trademark Kogonada empathy. It is a beautiful examination of how our memories cloud our present, and how the stirrings of new love can finally provide the clarity we need to change our future.
Who should watch it? This film is a treasure for anyone who loves "talky" cinematic romances or the works of Michel Gondry and Makoto Shinkai. If you are an aficionado of visual storytelling and don't mind a story that prioritizes feeling over plot, you will find plenty to love here. It is perfect for those who enjoy seeing beautiful people falling in love on screen in a way that feels earnest and vulnerable.
Who might not enjoy it? If you are a cynical viewer who rolls their eyes at "twee" indie playbooks or high-concept whimsy, this journey might feel a bit forced. Those who require a tightly wound plot with clear resolutions may be frustrated by the experimental nature of the third act. Your mileage will ultimately depend on your own "personal GPS" and your willingness to trust where the film is taking you.
Ultimately, this is a film that rewards those who are willing to go with it. It is a lovely, imaginative adventure that proves Kogonada can operate on a grander scale without losing the quiet heart that makes his work so special.
Recommendation: A visually stunning and emotionally rich experience. See it on the biggest screen possible to fully appreciate the meticulous design and Joe Hisaishi’s transportive score.
 Movie Review: A Luminous Road Trip Through the Heart’s Rearview Mirror){kind=link}
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