Emmy-winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Oscar-winner Kevin Kline bring the weird and whimsical in ‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’

EVERY epic trip starts with a choice. For David (Colin Farrell), it’s at a car rental agency staffed by a peculiar pair: a theatrical cashier (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and an even stranger mechanic (Kevin Kline). Their offering? A run-down 1994 Saturn GL and—wait for it—a retrofitted GPS system that looks more suited for a video game console than a road trip.

And so begins A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, a whimsical and heartwarming new film that takes David, along with Sarah (Margot Robbie), a woman he just met at a wedding, on a ride neither of them expected.

Director Kogonada didn’t just want actors—he wanted theatricality. That’s why he cast Waller-Bridge and Kline, both celebrated veterans of the stage and screen, to bring a special kind of sparkle to their roles.

“Phoebe and Kevin are from the theater, and that scene called for a certain kind of theatricality and playfulness that for me was central to this story,” Kogonada says.

And it shows. The brief yet unforgettable sequence with the two delivers a jolt of energy, humor, and curiosity that sets the tone for everything that follows.

Seth Reiss, the film’s writer (best known for The Menu), recalls being captivated just watching the scene come to life.

“It was such a joy to look at the monitor when they were filming this scene and see Phoebe and Kevin sitting behind a desk, having a blast, and Colin having a blast with them,” says Reiss. “They created a great and surprising dynamic.”

Their chemistry? Instant. Their comedic timing? Impeccable. The result? A small but mighty moment that ripples across the entire film.

This isn’t just any GPS system. It’s quirky, it’s retro, and it’s central to the film’s journey—literally and metaphorically. When David turns it on, it asks a single question:

“Do you want to go on a big bold beautiful journey?” “There’s something playful about this device,” Kogonada explains. “We had the GPS designed to resemble a Nintendo game controller and HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey. The GPS is helping them navigate the world both geographically and existentially in order for them to move forward romantically.”

The GPS becomes both a plot device and a metaphor. It doesn’t just guide—it nudges, challenges, and inspires.

According to producer Bradley Thomas, the Waller-Bridge-Kline duo does more than deliver laughs—they’re the film’s unexpected spark plugs.

“Phoebe’s and Kevin’s roles are pivotal,” says Thomas. “They’re the first characters David meets, and they propel him on this adventure. When Phoebe and Kevin show up, you just know you’re in for something smart and fun.”

And isn’t that exactly what we want from a story called A Big Bold Beautiful Journey?

Now showing in PH cinemas, distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

For updates and shared moments, follow @columbiapicph and tag #ABigBoldBeautifulJourney on social.

(ROHN ROMULO)