Margot Robbie's Rom-Com Fizzles: Critics Call A Big Bold Beautiful Journey 'Insufferable'
ROM-COM ROLLERCOASTER: MARGOT ROBBIE AND COLIN FARRELL'S BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY CRASHES AND BURNS
The press tour for Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell's highly anticipated romantic fantasy, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, has been a whirlwind affair, with the A-list duo jetting across the globe to promote their big screen romance. But despite their efforts, the movie has faced a brutal backlash from critics, leaving fans wondering if it's more of a "big bold bore" than a blockbuster.
According to reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey has earned a dismal 56% approval rating, with many critics slamming the film as "insufferable," "sickly sweet," and "a dream that turned into a nightmare." The movie's Metacritic score is equally disappointing, with a 39 out of 100 rating, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.
Margot Robbie, who has been on a hot streak since her star-making turn in 2023's Barbie, which grossed over $1.4 billion worldwide, seems to be the main target of criticism. The actress, who both starred in and produced Barbie through her LuckyChap company, had expressed her enthusiasm for A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, calling the script "exquisite" and saying she wanted to do a "love story." However, it appears that the film's romantic fantasy elements fell flat with critics.
One of the most scathing reviews came from Indiewire's Ryan Lattanzio, who wrote that the film is "miscalculated as a romance and a fantasy," and that director Kogonada, who had previously won critical acclaim for his work on Columbus and After Yang, should have done better. Lattanzio also criticized the script, saying it was "lousy" and that Robbie and Farrell's chemistry couldn't save it.
The Wrap's William Bibbiani was equally brutal in his review, calling A Big Bold Beautiful Journey "an insufferable romantic fantasy" that failed to deliver on its promise. Bibbiani argued that the film's biggest problem is its lack of substance, saying that Robbie and Farrell are simply "standing on screen, trying to make the most of a trifle."
Variety's Tomris Laffly also panned the film, calling it "a big bold beautiful bore" that fails to deliver on its promise of magic and romance. Laffly noted that the film's visual effects, such as the use of lens flares and cutesy needle drops, are the only notable highlights.
Even ScreenDaily's Nikki Baughan, who praised Robbie and Farrell's chemistry, couldn't hide her disappointment with the film. Baughan wrote that A Big Bold Beautiful Journey tries too hard to be charming, resulting in a "sickly sweet" movie that fails to deliver.
Despite the backlash, Robbie and Farrell remain optimistic about the film, with the actress saying she would love to work with Farrell again on a romantic project. Farrell has also expressed his enthusiasm for working with Robbie, calling it a "dream" from start to finish.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey marks Robbie's return to work after the birth of her first child last year, and it remains to be seen how the film will perform at the box office. With its poor critical reception, it's unlikely that the movie will reach the same heights as Barbie, which grossed over $636 million domestically.
The release of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey also coincides with a busy period for Robbie, who will soon be back on the promo trail for Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights, set to hit cinemas in February. Whether or not she can redeem herself after this misstep remains to be seen.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is released on September 19, and it will be interesting to see how audiences react to the film despite its poor critical reception. One thing is certain: Robbie and Farrell's chemistry is undeniable, but unfortunately, their latest project may not be enough to save them from this romantic fantasy disaster.