PLOT: Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) meet at a marriage, and destiny throws them collectively on a journey via time that revisits previous errors within the hopes of constructing them a greater future.
REVIEW: Whimsy is a troublesome factor to drag off. We dwell in a cynical period the place audiences appear cool on something that doesn’t include a heavy dose of irony. Add to that Hollywood’s reluctance to green-light romance motion pictures that aren’t based mostly on bestsellers, and you’ve got a difficult market for A Massive Daring Lovely Journey to open in.
The film, from acclaimed indie director Kogonada (Columbus, After Yang), options two bona fide film stars in Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie. However regardless of the whimsical premise (a journey via time), the movie itself is just too quiet and stately to attach, with paper-thin characters including to the sense that this was a misbegotten venture for all concerned.
For a film like this to work, you must be invested within the leads. Past the truth that they’re performed by impossibly handsome stars, you by no means actually care whether or not Robbie’s Sarah and Farrell’s David find yourself collectively. They meet at a marriage the place we’re requested to consider David—regardless of his beauty and Irish brogue—is shy with ladies, whereas Sarah simply desires a no-strings-attached hookup. They miss out on an evening collectively, however each wind up in a magical rental automotive with a GPS that leads them backward in time. They’re given the prospect to relive moments from their youth—scenes that ought to have been enjoyable however as a substitute come throughout as dry. At the least there’s one spotlight: Colin Farrell displaying off an surprising aptitude as a song-and-dance man whereas reliving his teenage years in a faculty manufacturing of Achieve Business With out Actually Making an attempt.
The journey, overseen by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (sporting an terrible German accent) and Kevin Kline (with an equally unhealthy English one) at their magic automotive rental company, is designed to show Sarah and David learn how to love once more. David has by no means discovered “the one” and has given up attempting, whereas Sarah believes she’s unworthy of affection and continually self-sabotages. Their journey via time is extra therapeutic than thrilling, but it surely’s by no means as shifting correctly.
My hunch is that A Massive Daring Lovely Journey falters as a result of Kogonada, an excellent filmmaker, works finest when directing his personal scripts. He has a really specific aesthetic, and right here it doesn’t mesh with Seth Reiss’s screenplay, which most likely wanted a lighter, extra playful contact. The film lacks momentum or vitality, although it’s beautiful to take a look at due to Benjamin Loeb’s luxurious cinematography. The nice Hamish Linklater, saddled with an Irish accent, will get one of many movie’s few gems of a job as David’s kindly father, and his scenes with Farrell really resonate.
That mentioned, I totally anticipate this film to attach with some individuals. It feels just like the type of movie that might develop a small however loyal viewers. Living proof: I noticed this at a personal screening (I did the junket—interviews dropping tomorrow), and it was simply me and the hulking safety guard assigned to look at me. When the film ended, this mild large was in tears, telling me the movie hit very near residence for him. For him, it landed. And in the event you suspect it’d land for you too, then by all means, go see it—I actually hope you like it.
As for me? In relation to romances, I most popular the upcoming, earthier Roofman.
