Guy (Ryan Reynolds) is a carefree bank teller, living life with vigor and passion. One day he realizes that he is a non-playable character in an open-world video game called Free City. Free Guy is the story of the titular Guy finding his way in this brutal, blood-soaked video game world.
There is something incredibly fun about films like Free Guy. Similar in style to Ready Player One, Free Guy allows writers Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn and director Shawn Levy complete freedom in terms of narrative, set design, world creation, and character development. Due to the fact that Free Guy is set in a video game world, nothing is impossible, essentially making this film a free for all, and enormously fun for viewers. As the story unfolds and seemingly ridiculous things come to fruition, viewers are often reminded that anything is possible in Free City–adding to the adrenaline rush that is Free Guy.
Free Guy is a metaphor for the real world–where everything is dog-eat-dog, but anything is possible. As Guy navigates the rocky terrain of Free City, he grows, becomes emotionally relevant, and connects with viewers on a deep, meaningful level. However, beyond that metaphor–the one that expresses to viewers that they can do anything that they set their mind to, viewers develop an emotional connection to Reynold’s Guy. He’s a video game character, a nothing in the grand scheme of life, but he represents everyone. He exists in the background of other’s stories, but he is the facilitator of his life, his journey, and he is the one in control of his destiny. The message that develops throughout the course of Free Guy is one by which every single person should live–live life to the fullest, don’t let others control you, and do what makes you happy.
A talented cast drives Free Guy forward, and each and every quirky character is brought to life in a unique and fun way. Jodie Comer (Millie/Molotovgirl), Taika Waititi (Antwan), Lil Rel Howery (Buddy), Joe Keery (Keys), and others are immensely entertaining and they convey emotion brilliantly, but most importantly they are wonderfully funny. Emotion and real-world connections play a role in Free Guy but comedy is the vehicle by which each of these other aspects are delivered to viewers, and every actor delivers. Waititi has made a name for himself in Hollywood over the course of the past few years, and once again he presents viewers with a unique character full of life, energy, and laugh-out-loud comedy. He is the epitome of what Free Guy is and what the writers and director are able to create–and that is fun, laugh-out-loud content that breaches the parameters of what comedy can be.
Free Guy has been nominated for Best Achievement in Visual Effects at this year’s Academy Awards. It’s a well-deserved nomination as the film is full of non-stop special effects and animation that are ultimately the core of Free Guy. However, just as good and as powerful as the visual effects is the soundtrack–which is a blissfully energetic, romantic, and emotionally relevant symphony of tunes that appeal to anyone and everyone willing to watch Free Guy. From the opening moments these two aspects of the film blend together seamlessly and add levels of sophistication and awe to an already wonderful film.
Free Guy has remained on my list of films to watch for some time now, unfortunately falling to the wayside time after time. Finally, after months of anticipation, and its release on both HBOMax and Disney+, I’m here to tell you that Free Guy is one of the best films of 2021, appealing to emotion, absolutely slaying the visuals and the music, and delivering a story that everyone will appreciate.
Directed by Shawn Levy.
Written by Matt Lieberman & Zak Penn.
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Taika Waititi, Channing Tatum, Aaron W Reed, Britne Oldford, Camille Kostek, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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