Strangers David and Sarah meet at a wedding and find themselves embarking on a surreal journey on the way home that combines the abstract with the personal, and the past with the present.

Kogonada is a brilliant filmmaker who knows how to unlock the human soul to his audiences with a patient and tender approach. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey isn’t lacking in vision, but in finding a cohesive and meaningful whole within its story. Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie are cast well together in an almost Eternal Sunshine-like odyssey, but Robbie’s character still feels distant as we still know too little about her by the end. Kogonada’s wondrous imagery gives a sense of curiosity and whimsicality, from actions, objects, and colors that stand out in the frame to a hilarious supporting character who’s also a car GPS. Some scenes entertain as the characters look back at regret, loss, and their own lack of self-confidence in creative ways, but it only makes much sense for about half an hour, until the intrigue loses steam and the dialogue in which the characters discuss the film’s themes begins to feel somewhat hollow. As a romance, the film also falls flat, not by looking back at the lead characters’ mistakes in their past relationships, but when a romance between the two of them then comes way too quickly without feeling earned.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey digs deep into ideas such as confidence, fear, commitment, and remorse, in ways that feel emotionally earnest yet never come together to say something big, bold, and beautiful, like the title says. It’s arguably worth watching for the ambition alone, but also a shame to thing of how much better it could’ve been in the hands of this director and two magnificent stars.