This movie should have been named Free Ryan because when it comes to Ryan Reynolds he don’t need a script, roll the cameras and LET HIM COOK!
Free Guy takes place in both the real world and Free City. Free City is multiplayer online role playing game in which the players differentiate from each other via sun glasses. So anyone without a sunglasses is an NPC. Our main character Guy who is an NPC accidentally gets his hands on sunglasses so can now see the world through a player’s eyes, which is “against the rules”. Guy is then recognised as a bug and the creators of the game try numerous ways to get rid of him. Guy teams up with a player who’s set out to defraud the game company for stealing her gaming idea and its a big and wild adventure traversing through this vibrant game world.
Ryan is Ryan. The best character he can actually be. He plays Guy. He’s chirpy, witty, funny and just always on job. If they are going to call you one dimensional, show them that you do it the best I guess. Lil Rel Howery is Buddy, another NPC and Guys best friend. It’s a small role but you do see how they compliment each other on screen as friends. Jodie Colmer and Joe Keery play the human characters Millie and Keys. They are cute and their journey is innocent and fun in which you get to witness their on screen chemistry. Taika Waititi is the villain. The chief developer trying to get rid of NPCs. He’s snobbish, villainous and just the right amount of irritating to want to punch in the face. There are whole load of cameos with Channing Tatum being one and being the cool cat he is. We have Chris Evans, Hugh Jackman etc. also pop up. Channing seems to be doing a lot of cameos lately.
The biggest character was the world it self. It told its own narrative by just being active and busy with so many cameos and easter eggs for gamers.
That brings us onto the production which was really good. We get a nice balance between the real world and game world and the switchovers just seem seamless. The game world was showcased in live action so as the audience we always feel connected. It’s littered with CGI understandably and it’s at a top level. It’s clean, crisp and implemented well.
As a gamer myself viewing life through the eyes of an NPC was a fresh take and it was actually funny. It’s a heavy story on being set apart from the rest and just being your self. It focuses on one breaking the mould and living their own path. Plots around friendship, redemption and justice. These are notions I’m not kids would pick up instantly but I’m sure it will resonate. There’s a lot of over acting but as much as it gets annoying it definitely does add to the corny, fun action the movie sets out to show. Story does take some weird turns like human characters falling in love with video game characters like huh… but we move. Luckily there is a sub par love story that ties it all together so it doesn’t get too weird. It was fun however seeing the many IP cameos like Captain Americas shield, Megamans blaster, Star Wars lightsaber and many more. It’s brilliant nerdism at its best!
Free Guy has that fun Shawn Levy feel. It’s entertainment, over the top , enjoyable and just something really lighthearted. It’s a one time story you take in, enjoy and kind of move on. Every gamer should give it a watch, casual viewers will also relish the rollercoaster of amusement.
Who was your favourite character? What cameo appearances did you pick up on? Do you think it needs a sequel? Can you handle more Ryan? React and comment below…
