A bank teller (Ryan Reynolds) who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game decides to become the hero of his own story – one he rewrites himself. Now, in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way … before it’s too late.
For in-depth thoughts on Free Guy, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Free Guy offers a lovely uptick in quality over the already incredible accompanying Blu-Ray which places it among the top new releases of the year. Skin tones appear more natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores. The increased range of the color spectrum is stunning to behold. The HDR enriches the colors from already impressive to out of this world when it comes to vibrancy. From the opening moments, you can take a look at the vivid hues throughout the city and be blown away. The bright video game aesthetic really delivers some eye-popping hues.
The highlights in the film are more defined with whites more pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. Elements in the film taking place in the cover of darkness are more vivid and finely delineated. The black levels are especially strong in this presentation, staying deep and inky with great detail. This 4K UHD presentation really delivers on all fronts including strong gains in clarity and color. The Blu-Ray is great, but Disney has delivered another demo-worthy transfer on this latest 4K release.
Audio Quality
This disc comes equipped with a wonderful Dolby Atmos presentation that packs one heck of punch from beginning to end. From the opening moments walking through the city, the soundscape is set to deliver an expansive experience suitable for an action film. Sounds are appropriately rendered with precise directionality from the more kinetic action scenes to interpersonal moments of dialogue. Ambient details are plentiful and quite satisfying in the rear and overhead channels. The overhead channels serve to complement the other channels rather than carry the main load, which adds a nice sense of space to the mix. Musical cues and the score from Christophe Beck envelope the room with a vengeance. Dialogue is presented perfectly clear without ever being overwhelmed by any of the competing sonic elements. The heavy gunfire and crashes provide an all-encompassing soundscape that kicks in throughout all the speakers. The low end is engaged in a really solid way that will have your house shaking. The mix offers up the best experience for those with the home theater system to support it.
Special Features
- Deleted/Extended Scenes: Three scenes totaling six minutes are provided here featuring Guy and Buddy having a heart to heart on the beach, an extended NPC rally scene and more.
- Gag Reel: Five minutes of forgotten and flubbed lines, joking around, malfunctioning props and more are included here.
- Dude Vs. Guy: A 16-minute featurette in which the cast and crew go through the process of creating the epic showdown featured in the film including the visual effects, stunts, storyboarding, capturing the performances and more.
- Creating Moltovgirl: A seven-minute breakdown of the role Jodie Comer plays in the film including the conceptualization, evolution and execution of bringing Molotovgirl to life.
- It’s Taika’s World: A nine-minute piece which explores how Taika Waitit brings to life the outrageous Antwan along with his presence on the set.
- Welcome To Free City: A 15-minute featurette in which the cast and crew delve into the origins of the project, the art of getting the aesthetic of the city right, the production design, the inhabitants, the visual effects and more.
- Theatrical Trailers: The disc provides three Theatrical Trailers (3:03, 2:35 and 2:26)
Final Thoughts
Free Guy is a complete blast from beginning to end. The movie embraces gamer culture and presents it in an inventive and hilarious way that is over the top in the best way. Ryan Reynolds is a performer who rarely stretches himself dramatically, but when he finds the right role he executes it very well – and this role is tailor-made for his sensibilities. While Reynolds is the star, the film often finds the rest of the ensemble nearly outshining him with their memorable performances. If you want something consistently funny with great action and a bit of heart, this one should more than do the trick. Disney Home Entertainment and 20th Century Studios have released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring an outstanding A/V presentation and a decent assortment of special features that should please fans. Recommended
Free Guy will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray and DVD on October 12, 2021. The film is currently available on digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Disney Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
