A One Mann’s Movies review of “Free Guy” (2021).
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
I managed to see “Free Guy” last night at a Cineworld “Secret Cinema” event. I’ve seen on Twitter that there are several very cross people since it is due out in only 2 days and they’d already booked their tickets, with friends, for the weekend. Perhaps Cineworld you need to pitch your “Secret” events – like for “Green Book” – a few MONTHS rather than a few days before the scheduled release! But I was delighted to see it early!
Life’s a beach, even in the digital world. Guy and Buddy share a beer. (Source: Walt Disney Studios MPI).
Plot Summary:
Guy (Ryan Reynolds) has an orderly life living in Free Town despite all the random violence that happens in the city. (But, hey, that seems to just be a way of life these days huh?) His job at the local bank is as regular as clockwork (including the multiple heists they have to put up with each day). There’s only one issue. None of it is real. Guy, his best friend Buddy (Lil Rel Howery) and all his acquaintances are just non-playing characters in a video game owned by the Soonami corporation.
But Guy’s world is about to change dramatically when he runs into “Molotov Girl” who in ‘real life’ is Millie (Jodie Comer) who, definitely not coincidentally, co-wrote part of the game. For there is a bigger game afoot!
Guy and Molotov Girl share quieter times.. and a love for swings and bubblegum ice cream. (Source: Walt Disney Studios MPI).
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery.
Directed by: Shawn Levy.
Written by: Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn.
Somewhat over-shadowed by Comer, but Joe Keery as Keys is also very good in this as the nerdy programmer. (Yeah, like THEY could ever be cool, right?). (Source: Walt Disney Studios MPI).
“Free Guy” Review:
Positives:
- It’s a riot of noise and colour. Like a fevered teenager’s dream. And – in the main – very funny. Ryan Reynolds is, as always, anarchically brilliant, playing the role of both Guy and “The Dude” – the one with the slightly unformed catchphrase. Both Reynolds and actor/director Taika Waititi, who plays the flamboyant mega-games-mogul Antoine – are well known for their improv lines. And this is on show here in spades (for better and in some cases for worse). The Bluray extras on this one are sure to be a smorgasbord of different variants!
- Jodie Comer. Wow! The “Killing Eve” star had a cameo as Rey’s mother in “Star Wars – The Rise of Skywalker” and starred in 2017’s Morrissey biopic “England is Mine”. But she’s been TV’s hidden gem in the main. This will surely be a break-out movie for her since she is in a class of her own here. Her portrayal of the flashback teenage version of herself is brilliantly nuanced and believable. I know she’s a serious actress, but the end of the movie made me think that there’s a strong niche, alongside the likes of Rachel McAdams and Emilia Clarke, in delivering a top-class romcom in the future.
- No spoilers, but there is a surprise cameo towards the end of the movie that made the whole cinema erupt with laughter.
- The score by Christophe Beck is great, and song selections (especially the wonderful “Make Your Own Kind of Music”) are well-chosen and snort-worthy with their inclusion. I was listening to an interview with Beck on Scala Radio and he used to be a protégé of the great Mike Post: and there’s a nice tribute to Post with the inclusion of his “Greatest American Hero” theme to accompany “Dude” at one point.
This sequence left me thinking only one thing… I hope Reynolds was wearing ear plugs for this! (Source: Walt Disney Studios MPI).
Negatives:
- Waititi as Antoine is supposed to be over-the-top, but he misses 11, 12 and 13 and cranks it right up to 14 with his performance. Some of his (presumably) improv lines cross a mark. Dude, CANCER JUST ISN’T FUNNY. Nobody laughed. I can’t understand why this line was left in the cut when presumably they had a number of other variants. Bad judgement. (This is about the only reason I’m not giving this movie 5*s).
- Per “Summary Thoughts” below – it’s not as original as it likes to think it is.
Waikiki going through 10 and heading for 14. (Source: Walt Disney Studios MPI).
Summary Thoughts on “Free Guy”
So, this is a movie that a lot of folks I know have been waiting for. And it’s a blast that I enjoyed immensely. There is little original under the movie sun, and this is no exception. It strays significantly into Spielberg’s “Ready Player One“, especially towards the end of the movie. But I personally found the closest resonance was with Peter Weir’s peerless “The Truman Show”. I even wondered if Reynolds was acknowledging that at one point, with a Carrey-esque gurn on one of his “Good Morning goldfish” segments?
The great thing is that you can ONLY see this on the big screen (which I hope stays that way for a good number of months). So I recommend you do just that since it’s a fine big screen summer blockbuster to enjoy. But when you go, don’t have a good visit – have a GREAT visit!
Monkey?
By the way, there is NO monkey with this one, so you don’t need to “do a Marvel” and sit through the end credits (unless, like me, you want to listen to more of Christophe Beck’s score again).
Trailer:
The trailer for “Free Guy” is here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2m-08cOAbc.
By the way, there’s a VERY funny spoof trailer featuring Reynolds as “The Dude” here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBRfe5qhrb4.
