Free Guy is a scifi action/comedy about a NPC(non-player character) in the video game Free City (one part Fortnite, one part Grand Theft Auto) named Guy(Ryan Reynolds) a bank teller who achieves sentience and starts "playing" the game after meeting the woman of his dreams Millie(Jodie Comer) a game designer covertly searching Free City for parts of her game that were stolen by Antwan(Taika Waititi).
Reynolds is right in his sweet spot here, a complementary performance to Deadpool, it has the humor, the physical element, a bit of the meta reference, but instead of Deadpool's cynicism Guy has a virtually unflappable sincerity and as a lead action character that kind of blind hopefulness and optimism is really refreshing. Comer is also excellent and clearly enjoys the action as well as the silly/sweet tone. Waititi always delivers and he to seems to relish the opportunity to play the heavy. The other big supporting characters are Lil Rey Howard as Buddy Guy's best friend, who's post Get Out renaissance has been delightful to watch and a gift to audiences, Joe Keery(aka Steve from Stranger Things) who plays Keys Millie's former partner who now works for Antwan. Keery isn't given as much to do and is somewhat sidelined in the plotting but it still a pleasure to see, and lastly Utkarsh Ambudkar as Mouser Keys' co-worker who is given even less to do than Keery but still, as always, has excellent energy, is magnetic onscreen, and brings and effortless humor.
Visually interesting if familiar in its video game amalgam aesthetic, a score with a series of excellent needle drops, and some great over the top action make for a surprisingly solid production. Even though it is not based on a specific video game it is one of, if not the, most successful "video game movie" perhaps because it is not particularly beholden to any source material. The narrative drags somewhat in the third act and the focus is unsuccessfully shifted from Guy's journey to autonomy to the underdeveloped romance between Millie and Keys but overall that stumble doesn't effect the overall enjoyment.
A solid, funny, exciting, popcorn movie. The rare blockbuster not derived from existing IP and all the more refreshing for it.
Currently in theaters coming soon to VOD.
See It.
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