Films where the protagonists decide to go on trips, and explore new places have been loved by the audiences worldwide. Such films tend to allow their protagonists to have a breath of fresh air as they try to get a break from their melancholic, and repetitive life events. Not only this, but in these films, the protagonists also, and mostly, discover their ‘want’ in life, instead of running behind their ‘need’. The characters engage in activities, and events where their long asleep inner child wakes up to have a second run, and they decide to lead their lives in a way that gives them happiness. That’s it! That’s all of the elements these films function on.
Now, some people might find such films a comfort watch, and an escape from the same vicious circles that the protagonists in the films face, but I feel that such films are more of a ‘copy-paste’ in many ways. I think there is probably a golden rule for these films that all the makers have been following so religiously, supposedly being ‘There should only be three friends who go on a trip, in order to make its uprising, and upbeat’, and if any more friends hop in on such ventures, the film will pretty surely turn into a survival drama like ‘Deliverance’, ‘The Ritual’, or ‘The Blair Witch Project’. There are plenty of films that can testify my theory, some of which are ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, ‘The Hangover’, ‘Go Goa Gone’, ‘Good Grief’, and as of today, a new film joins this list. I’m talking about a Filipino film called ‘A Journey’, that is available to watch on Netflix. Let’s discuss it further
Not So Original
The film revolves around Shane (Kaye Abad), her husband Bryan (Paolo Contis), and their childhood friend Kristoff (Patrick Garcia). The film establishes Shane as a cancer survivor, being wholeheartedly supported by both her closest friends. A few minutes into the film, we see that Shane’s cancer has returned, as she is seen coughing blood.
As anyone would, Bryan and Kristoff request Shane to get treatment, and beat cancer, but having dealt with the pain of fighting cancer once has exhausted Shane, and she decides to not get any treatment at all. She tells Bryan, and Kristoff that in the time she has left with them, she wants to explore new things with them, and make memories. This film might look very positive, and whimsical, but to be honest, it is not a very fresh concept. I’m sure that if you try to sum up all the details about the plot, your brain would come up with the names of at least 3 films with a similar story.
The ‘Magic List’
Having decided that she does not want to go through treatment for her cancer, Shane comes up with a list of things she wants to do, places she wants to visit, and wonders of the world she wants to witness. She calls it the ‘Magic List’.
Some of the experiences she mentions in the list are truly farfetched, and expensive, but having nothing else to think about, or save for, Shane only wants to honor her time left with her loved ones. Her logic behind this list is that everyone should make a Magic List of their own, which must include all the things that give them happiness, no matter if they are as ambitious as Shane’s list or not
Good Chemistry
This film is not just a wife’s dying wish, and husband’s efforts to put it up to her expectations. It is more of a joyride that binds childhood friends together, and lets them reminisce about their life together. Shane, Bryan, and Kristoff, or commonly called Tupe, make up a good trio, and their childlike innocence among themselves makes them even more loveable.
Shane, and Bryan are a couple, but their friendship is a far more explored relationship in the film. They are not a complicated couple and become as much of an individual as Kristoff is in this trio.
Simple Story, Unexpected Twist
The film seems to be a linear tale, with nothing more to think about than the ‘journey’ itself, but it doesn’t stay the same for the whole course of the story.
What you predict, or think about how this film is going to end, is not how it is going to turn out. The film for sure has developed character arcs, but the ‘destiny’ is entirely different from the supposed ‘journey’. By the end of the film, you might feel a bit confused as how some parts are rushed towards the conclusion, but I believe that giving them more time to expand their roots would also have been a drag.
Conclusion
‘A Journey’ is an already established story, but from the perspective of an exhausted woman, a hopeful husband, and a friend, who needs a break from his work, to rekindle his old innocence.
There is not a single department that I can wholeheartedly appreciate in this film for its technical prowess. All the departments work in synchronisation, and give a slightly above average film. The dialogues are worth appreciating, but only when the characters are having mature discussions, which is considerably a slim margin, since most of the time the characters are goofing around.
The performances in this film are not as impactful as they should have been, and it seems that something is missing from the emotional moments, as they do not seem to be hard-hitting enough.
What you can take back from this film are the scenic shots of the picturesque locations that you come across throughout the film. Be it the mainland of the Australian continent, or the sight of cute little penguins, it seems that we are traveling along with the trio, and experiencing everything firsthand.
In the end, I would say that ‘A Journey’ is not a film that can make you emotional, or reignite the cheerful personality within you, but it sure can engage you with the chemistry between the characters. It can entertain with silly humor, and it might even satisfy the criteria of an emotional film for some, but for me, this film just does not land on point.
‘A Journey’ is currently streaming on Netflix.
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