Films > Film Reviews

Free Guy

12/08/21

Films based on video games often get a bad rep (I’m looking at you Mortal Kombat and Pixels) - but thankfully and rather brilliantly Free Guy bucks that trend spectacularly. 

The movie follows Guy (Ryan Reynolds), who does the exact same thing every single day, down to the coffee he drinks and the way he greets his pet fish, and he loves every second of his existence. Until he meets Jodie Comer’s Millie, or Molotov Girl, a feisty woman who is shrouded in mystery.

With nods to Super Mario Bros, Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto, Free Guy zooms around on an Easter egg filled journey of adventure and laughter. There are blink and you’ll miss them cameos and an absolutely kick ass soundtrack (I remembered every single word to Mariah Carey’s fantasy!)

Whilst Taika Waititi superbly plays the villain of the piece (tyrant tycoon Antoine) it is the aforementioned Comer who steal every scene she's is in, be that in the real world or the virtual one. The Killing Eve star really does own this movie, she plays the characters wonderfully and the relationship with Reynold’s Guy really does shine. 

Contrasts of calm and calamity run through the film, and whilst there are tons of references for gamers to look out for you don’t have to be a video game aficionado (I’m certainly not) to enjoy it. 

What you essentially get from the epic adventure is The Trueman Show on speed. And I guarantee you’ll have Carey’s ‘Fantasy’ as an ear-worm for days afterwards.  

Free Guy is in the cinemas from Friday 13th August.