Free Guy

Game character Ryan Reynolds has become sentient and decided to do good, and that can have far-reaching consequences in the game. This action comedy relies on a combination of wild action, slightly wacky humor, a bunch of pop culture references, a very plucky hero and an unexpectedly positive atmosphere. It's fun to watch. (08/14/2021)

The greatest chance of success that Free Guy has is with gamers around the age of ten, ideally those who play GTA and Fortnite, and who will surely grunt with delight. Otherwise, this is, in every respect, a half-hearted action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds with solid yet forgettable action, a below-average comedy element (pop-culture references and acting cameos are no guarantee that a joke will work and the attempt at striking one-liners misses the mark), and a formulaic story slapped together from motifs that have been seen many times before with better execution. Unlike The Truman Show, Free Guy doesn't work with any satirical level or deeper idea and it looks like Ready Player One’s much poorer and less imaginative cousin in terms of content; overall, its closer to the new Jumanji, with which it shares the inconsistency and ambiguity in the rules of its own fictional world and the ambition to entertain only casually without trying to have any kind of reach. In this respect, Free Guy works as light summer action entertainment thanks to, among other things, the professional technical aspect, an endearing subject about the lives of the game’s NPC characters and a likable cast. Nevertheless, it’s rendered in a way that doesn’t even come close to fully utilizing its strong potential. The result is that wherever Free Guy wants to be fateful, complex and absolutely thrilling, it remains only half-baked, superficial and generally mediocre. (08/15/2021)

How long have I waited for a wild ride like this? I've lost count. There have been countless attempts, but Free Guy nails it. It's nerd heaven on a platter. Someone really let loose and made a film that I'm amazed even exists. If you love games like Grand Theft Auto (GTA) or Just Cause, you're going to be in bliss. For those who don't, it's still a blast of action and effects — digital overload and all. This movie is bursting with ideas, taking jabs at everything and everyone. Watching Ryan Reynolds as Guy, an NPC who starts to become self-aware, is an absolute delight from the moment he appears. And with a stellar cast including Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, and Taika Waititi, everyone is spot on. After all the chaos and fun, it’s surprising to realize that at its core, it’s a romantic film. Free Guy is full of surprises and the kind of movie you'll want to watch over and over, enjoying every scene, the fantastic soundtrack, and the feeling that this movie is something special. I've put this film right up there with Shaun of the Dead — it's that good. (10/03/2022)

A pleasant relax movie. A multi-player game of GTA filmed with real people with the message that you can do whatever you want that rides on Reynolds’ crazy humor and wild action scenes. The laid-back, optimistic atmosphere isn’t what I would have expected in the world of Grand Theft Auto, but I enjoyed it. Waititi’s villain must have seemed like a really exaggerated caricature, but he delivers in style... (09/28/2021)

Finally, someone found the balls to film GTA in all its glory and put together some healthy sophisticated romance onto it with nonchalant elegance. A great portion of fun, which is a bit hurt by the dodgy visuals and uneven pace, but it is reliably compensated by a well of great directorial ideas and the traditionally fun Reynolds. (09/29/2021)