‘Free Guy’ Review: Dir. Shawn Levy (2021)

It has been a strange road to the cinema for many blockbusters over the last year. A number of different strategies have been employed over the course of the pandemic, from straight to streaming, to premium video on demand and simultaneous cinema and digital releases. A few have clung on to a cinema exclusive release from A Quiet Place Part 2, to No Time To Die and Ryan Reynolds Free Guy. In the case of the latter, it moved from an initial release of July 2020 to a still prime time summer slot in 2021, with everyone involved seemingly determined to ensure this came out on the big screen before anywhere else. On evidence of the film itself, it is very much the kind of effects-laden spectacle that was designed for the summer season, and while it may not be a flawless victory, there’s no denying the appeal. 

The film takes place in Free City, a GTA-esque open world video game, where we meet Guy (Reynolds) a NPC (non-playable character) in the game who works as a bank teller. Content in his existence, Guy’s life is turned upside down when he begins to develop self-awareness upon meeting MolotovGirl, the avatar controlled by computer programmer Millie (Jodie Comer). As he grapples with the nature of his existence, Guy ends up assisting Millie in finding her original code within the game, stolen by greedy games publisher Antwan (Taika Waititi). In doing so, he becomes a viral sensation, but soon finds himself in a fight to prevent the destruction of the digital world he calls home. 

There is a cracking concept at the heart of Free Guy. In showing the world of a video game from the perspective of one of its background characters, who soon begins to realise he’s in a video game, is inspired. Developed prior to Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, it is the type of original blockbuster concept that movies under the Fox banner were mostly responsible for in this age of IP-driven blockbusters,  something one hopes doesn’t fade away now the studio is part of the Walt Disney corporation. 

How the film develops its concept is where it can often feel like a bit of a let down. The open world game itself is a collection of video game tropes that game-saavy viewers will recognise, and while that often leads to some fun observations, there’s never quite as much imagination in the design as you would hope for. Aesthetically, it is a very bright and colourful environment, often cluttered and occasionally overwhelming in the sheer amount of CG on display.  

The jokes as well range from goofy slapstick, cameo punchlines and cringe worthy one liners, among the occasionally inspired gags. Where the film does win you over is in its rather affable nature as a blockbuster. Levy as a filmmaker may not be the most sophisticated, but he knows how to construct a crowd pleaser that while never quite as ambitious as you feel it could be, does offer enough heart and energy to keep you interested. That heart here comes in its clear effort to deliver a message that ultimately equates to being more kind both in the virtual and real world. It makes it very hard to dislike, even if you find many of the jokes don’t land.

The cast however are still a bit of a mixed bag. Reynolds as Guy, essentially playing Chris Pratt’s Emmett from The Lego Movie , is high energy throughout, which can often be a little exhausting, but his charm does have a funny way of wearing you down. Jodie Comer, so brilliant in Killing Eve, struggles on the comedy front, but is much more convincing when it comes to the action beats. It also doesn’t help that her subplot involves an under-developed romance with Joe Keery’s fellow programmer, despite how wonderful his hair may be. Taika Waititi as the antagonist of the piece is dialled up to eleven on his zany scale, providing plenty of silliness, but often undermining any threat his character may possess through his goofy delivery. 

Free Guy is very much the Mountain Dew of summer blockbusters. You kinda like the taste, you question its nutritional value, but you keep taking a sip, no matter what your dentist might say. Unlike the free-roaming game in the film, it is doubtful Free Guy will set the world on fire. But as good-natured summer blockbusters come, you would do a lot worse than jumping into the world of Free City.