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‘Free Guy’ Review – The Love Child of GTA and The Truman Show

Synopsis:

A bank teller 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 is too late.

It’s never too late to be or do something great. Once we start approaching thirty years of age, we’re made to feel that it’s all downhill from here. Well, I’m here to tell you that is completely false. Society may set certain limits on us but you don’t have to limit yourself. If you want to be an Olympic gymnast at forty, do it. If you want to start a rap career at the age of seventy-six, go for it. Want to start an OnlyFans making cougar content while wearing a luchador mask and popping balloons? Get it, girl. And if you decide that you want to stop sitting on the sidelines and become the hero of your life’s story, you definitely should. Ultimately, the only thing holding you back is yourself. The worst that can happen is that you fail and your life just goes back to what it was before. So, would you rather try and maybe fail but also, maybe succeed or be left with the regret of what if?

“Playtime’s over, catchphrase.”

I hope you’re ready for all the gamer content a movie can handle in Shawn Levy’s Free Guy. This movie is the love child of GTA and The Truman Show with Fortnite as its stepdad. Facing the same type of existential crisis as the ’98 Jim Carrey film, Ryan Reynold’s Guy is also similar in personality and daily routine. He lives in a world that is seemingly real but does not actually exist. The biggest difference is, Free Guy is an outrageous and fun ride from start to finish. With explosions literally at every turn, your favorite video game streamers, some surprise cameos, and a good story, this is nothing but a good time. However, if you’re looking for some heartfelt moments, a love story as well as one about friendship, it has that too. More than anything, I’d say the story revolves around love and what you would do for those you care about. The cinematography is great, there are some really cool shots, the cast is perfect, and visually, it looks amazing. Furthermore, as violent as the movie may seem, it is actually full of positivity. With themes of friendship, living up to your potential, sacrifice, and doing the right thing, there is a multitude of good that comes with the bullets and death. Not to mention, its subplot also intertwines perfectly with its main focus resulting in some nice moments. Since this is a film that you can only see in theaters, I decided to experience it in 4DX and it was definitely worth it. Free Guy is one of those movies that checks a lot of boxes. It’s a feel-good movie, it’s action, it’s romance, sci-fi, comedy, and also drama, plus it stars Ryan Reynolds. What more do you want? I had a great time, it’s something you and your friends will most certainly enjoy. Its rewatchability is high.

Pacing & Pop

The movie moved at the pace of Grand Theft Auto V. There are tons of action, side missions, and plenty of cutscenes to drive the story forward. What really popped for me was the writing. Many of the lines are still stuck in my head, such as, “It’s like losing my virginity, but in my mouth.” as well as the quote above.

Characters & Chemistry

This is a very fun cast. Ryan Reynolds is as Ryan Reynolds as he can be with a PG-13 rating. So, he’s hilarious and just raunchy enough to stay on brand. Lil Rel Howery is always a joy to see and somehow always brings depth to every character. As Buddy, he is now different and has great chemistry with Reynolds’ Guy. Jodie Comer as Millie delivers one of the best performances. Taika Watiti as Antoine is extreme and fits so perfectly against the calm and slightly spinelessness of Joe Keery’s Keys. And I also enjoy Utkarsh Ambudkar, he needs to be in more films.

Free Guy is currently playing in theaters and theaters only as of August 13, 2021. Stay safe and enjoy. RIP Alex Trebek.