There’s nothing like a superb story about human connection, being open to new experiences, and seeing the place that takes you. That’s particularly ripe materials for a beautiful romance. A Massive Daring Lovely Journey endeavors to be simply that, following Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell), who meet at a pal’s wedding ceremony after renting from a mysterious automotive rental firm, whose checkout was extra like an audition and options an awkwardly humorous Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
The latter encourages them so as to add the GPS possibility, in case their “telephone craps out.” They do, and it isn’t lengthy earlier than the system talks on to them, asking them in the event that they wish to go on a “massive daring stunning journey.” Had the reply been no, there wouldn’t be a film, and that will have been for one of the best. What we get is an extended, arduous romantic fantasy that sees the characters driving to varied past-leading doorways.
For Sarah, her previous is supposed to assist clarify why she’s standing in her personal method in relationships, irrespective of how good they’re, and David is supposed to determine what’s holding him again from diving headfirst into romance. They’ve each been harm (and harm different folks), so that they’re naturally hesitant about beginning one thing with one another — no matter whether or not their journey begins to really feel like future bringing them collectively.
Regardless of Its Star Energy, A Massive Daring Lovely Journey Is Empty Storytelling
Directed by Kogonada (Columbus, After Yang), from a screenplay by Seth Reiss, A Massive Daring Lovely Journey has the filmmaker’s signature type. As a substitute of a sweeping emotional rating and performances that extra clearly seize characters’ feelings, the movie is delicate, relying totally on its visible language to stir our hearts into feeling one thing. To make certain, the characters have their moments of catharsis, however the funding isn’t there to make it land emotionally. That is meant to be a romantic fantasy, and but there’s little of the previous to talk of.
Your entire movie is ready as much as evoke heartache, loneliness, and the concern of beginning a brand new relationship, nevertheless it dawdles when trying to genuinely seize any of those emotions. It so typically feels as sterile because the hospital Sarah visits to see her mom (Lily Rabe). There’s an vacancy that permeates the movie; it’s meant to convey us into the fantasy of the romance it’s portraying, not depart us on the outskirts trying in. Even the payoff isn’t as deep because it goals to be.
A Massive Daring Lovely Journey is little greater than manufactured sentimentality. It affords one thing new relating to its strategy to romantic fantasy, nevertheless it holds itself again. A slog to take a seat by way of and keep targeted, even Colin Farrell (who labored with Kogonada on After Yang) and Margot Robbie’s performances, although according to the movie’s indifferent melancholy, aren’t sufficient to make this a worthwhile watch.
At occasions compelling, the movie’s themes aren’t deep sufficient to warrant its pensive parts. We’re thrown into the center of Sarah and David’s lives with out correctly understanding them. The journey they take is supposed to fill within the blanks, however an preliminary tether — past lackluster and awkwardly delivered dialogue — would have elevated our connection to them. What’s the purpose of occurring this journey with them if we finally don’t care the place it leads?
The movie will make you’re feeling little past hole. A rousing story about discovering somebody and falling in love this isn’t — nor does it actually take care of the necessity for human connection very nicely. It’s an unlucky misfire that performs on the heartstrings within the hopes that we’ll be strung alongside.
Firstly, David talks together with his dad and mom on the telephone, and his father (Hamish Linklater) tells him to “be open” to what life can convey. I took that recommendation and went into A Massive Daring Lovely Journey with open arms, keen to embrace what it needed to provide. And there are moments right here that had the potential of being genuinely stunning and touching. However not even being open can stymie the sensation of disappointment that comes with the conclusion that the movie is falsely honest and a missed alternative in considerate storytelling.
- Launch Date
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September 19, 2025
- Director
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Kogonada
- Writers
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Seth Reiss
- Producers
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Bradley Thomas, Youree Henley, Ryan Friedkin, Seth Reiss