No matter how they are packaged, video game movies are a tricky proposition. From adaptations to riffs on gaming (see: Wreck it Ralph), there are usually more misses than there are hits and not a lot of originality on display. Ryan Reynolds’ Free Guy tries to bring something new to the video game movie by taking a very specific element of games and creating a 2-hour action movie out of it.
The idea behind Free Guy is simple. What if an NPC in a violent multiplayer video game became self-aware? What type of unique revelations would that include and how would that lend itself to both action sequences and comedy bits? Truth be told it’s the type of material that is perfect for Ryan Reynolds, so it only makes sense that he would produce Free Guy and play the lead.
There is still some of that surface-level understanding of video games on display in Free Guy but it doesn’t treat the subject matter like it’s taboo. It embraces the wackiness of video games and the endless possibilities presented by these digital worlds. The film also muses on ideas like taking ownership of one’s story and not letting others walk all over you. Mind you, it’s still a popcorn action flick at its core, but it has a sweet message and a compelling relationship created between Guy and Millie (Jodie Comer), a real-life player who doesn’t realize she’s falling for a digital character at first.
With the Millie/Guy relationship as its anchor, Free Guy takes a fantastical concept and makes it endlessly watchable. The film has some fun action scenes that only work because video games have no rules and a sense of humor that is peppered with tons of Easter eggs and references. The movie doesn’t ever take itself too seriously, but it also isn’t one big joke either. It’s just smart enough to make sure that it isn't completely written off like some other video game movies.
Arguably the weakest element of Free Guy is the way it tries to bring conflict from the real world. Taika Waititi’s Antwan is a bit too over-the-top (even for this type of movie), and his dastardly plan feels too broad in its strokes. It serves to push the characters forward, but the tone of his performance doesn’t mesh with everything else.
That being said, for a fun action-comedy Free Guy has a unique concept, likable characters, a lot of clever jokes, and exciting action beats. It knows when to reach and when to reel things in, and it only occasionally feels over-the-top. Count this as a major surprise for a summer season with a lot of familiarity in it.
Free Guy is in theaters now.
Free Guy
Free Guy tells the story of Guy (Ryan Reynolds), an NPC in an MMO video game called Free City who unexpectedly gains sentience and uses it to achieve his true potential. Aided by video game developer Keys (Joe Keery) and player character Millie (Jodie Comer), Guy helps to uncover Free City's source code in an attempt to prove that its developer (Taika Waititi) stole the code. With his best friend, NPC Buddy (Lil Rel Howery) at his side and armed with an array of video game weapons, Guy must face threats from both inside and outside of his virtual world.
