Nostalgic Romance Awash in Cliché: A Review of 'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey'

'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey' is a romantic film that tries to walk the line between fantasy and reality but ends up trapped in cliché after cliché. The protagonists, Sarah (played by Margot Robbie) and David (played by Colin Farrell), embark on a soul journey where they confront their emotional baggage in the hope of breaking free from their pessimistic perspectives on relationships. The film is filled with devices that feel painfully hackneyed, such as a magical GPS system guiding this symbolic 'journey.'

The storytelling coincides with the technical aspects of the film. Director Kogonada seems encased in an overly whimsical aesthetic, almost as if trying to compensate for lack of depth with visual flair. The film is drenched in primary colors, the scenery feels artificial, and the aura seems more fitting for a perfectly curated Instagram post rather than a human narrative.

The emotional narrative doesn’t fare much better, dishing out superficial sentiments about regret, grief, and commitment issues within relationships. The film attempts to deconstruct the fears and traumas that weigh down romantic relationships but only ends up superficially skimming the issues. The way the characters confront their issues feels more like a recitation of psychological issues rather than genuine emotional understanding.

Revisiting past traumas forms an essential part of the narrative, with the characters magically led to various versions of their past selves. Yet, even these 'memory doors' fall flat and add little substance or freshness to the narrative, instead offering more cliché-ridden sequences.

'A Big Bold Beautiful Journey' does attempt to present a message under its façade of whimsy, that is the importance of confronting emotional baggage to move forward in life. However, the execution of this idea is marred by the film's insistence on presenting traditional romantic relationships as the ultimate goal and solution to personal problems. The film ends up embodied its own metaphor, getting lost in its fantastical journey, leaving us with a romance that feels as flat and artificial as the world it's set in.