A good guy discovers he's actually an NPC inside an open world video
game, and becomes a sensation when he starts making his own choices. COMEDY/SCI-FI
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Free Guy (2021)Directed by Shawn Levy
Written by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn Starring Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Taika Waititi, Channing Tatum Oscar Nominations - Best Visual Effects |
Many times, I have been wrong when it comes to film. I can admit this. I’ll watch a trailer which doesn’t really interest me, and in turn, I write the movie off. Something I did for the recent comedy, Free Guy. Initially, it looked like just another Ryan Reynolds comedy. Except this time, the rating would be toned down and it would be tackling the ever-popular videogame culture. Something Hollywood has been notorious for having a complete lack of understanding with. But, as is always the case, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a chance. Now, I’m glad I did. The movie I had initially wrote off turned out to be one of the most fun and funniest films of the year. And, most importantly, one which respects videogames and the millions of gamers around the world.
It’s no secret Reynolds is doing his usual brand of comedy here. But it’s also no secret he truly is the best when it comes to being a quick witted, snarky guy we can’t help but love. Even with the toned-down rating, he is just as hilariously funny and seems to be having a genuinely great time. Not far behind is comedian Lil Rel Howery. I don’t think he’s made me laugh as hard in a movie since Get Out. If there is one weakness, though, it’s Taika Waititi. While he is good here, none of his jokes really landed for me and it just felt like playing the bad guy wasn’t really meant for him. Outside of these wonderful cast of characters, though, is a pretty engaging plot which treats the gaming community with actual respect. While there are still some classic jokes, it no longer feels like it represents the entirety of gamer everywhere. Instead, we get solid references and jokes to other well-known franchises and gaming tropes. It’s a small detail to praise, but considering Hollywood’s past with this community, it’s refreshing to see them treat it more positively. Simply put, this is an incredibly fun film. Reynolds delivers his reliable brand of comedy and there is a clear love of gaming from the filmmakers. Aside from what I felt was a weak villain, this is definitely a film one should enjoy with a group of either friends or family. Just don’t spoil one particularly awesome cameo and reference when you do. |
Movies based on existing videogames are often box office poison and critical failures. Sure, there's the rare Mortal Kombat 2021 or Sonic the Hedgehog, but most of the time it's nothing to write home about. However, few films have been able to capture the world of a videogame, creating a world that gives us a glimpse of a game we'd all kill to play. We saw this with Ready Player One, and I guess it's no surprise that Zak Penn (who wrote it) also cowrote Free Guy, one of the funniest and most creative films of the year.
Ryan Reynolds is Guy, a bank teller with a routine. Get up, get coffee, go to work, dodge the endless robberies, go home, repeat. He doesn't realize he's a background character in a popular videogame called Free City. Explosions, murder, car crashes, bank heists, and all sorts of wacky shit happen all around him, and he simply doesn't notice. But one day, he suddenly does notice, after he sees the girl of his dreams, who turns out to be a player named Millie (Comer). Together, Guy and Millie work to save Free City from its greedy developer (Waititi), as Millie comes to terms with the fact that she and her friend Keys (Keery) accidentally created artificial intelligence with Guy. Add to that a bunch of cameos, some impressive visual effects, and an endearing story of friendship and you've got a memorable comedy. Sure, Ryan Reynolds has been doing the same shtick since Van Wilder, but it works for him. It's funny shtick, and I enjoy it. The whole concept of a videogame world that lives and breathes on its own without us is fascinating, and very well executed with this film. I only wish it had more of a chance at success, but I guess we'll see. |