Free Guy Review: Level Up Your Movie Game With This Hilariously Fun Film

Release date: August 13, 2021
Running time: 110 minutes
Director: Shawn Levy 
Writers: Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Taika Waititi

In “Free Guy,” a bank teller who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, decides to become the hero of his own story…one he rewrites himself. Now in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way…before it is too late.

Free Guy is a love letter to videogames built on top of Ryan Reynolds wonderful character.  Guy is vintage Ryan Reynolds with a charming, good natured, and too good to be true personality.  But that is by design; Guy is an Non Player Character in the online game Free City, and as such his life revolves around playing this game and keeping the players happy.  However, one fateful day he has a run in that changes his entire world.  And when he starts to change, the film takes off.  It is hilarious to see Reynolds learn more about video game tropes and to start to come to terms with what he can do.  But he is not alone, the whole cast of the film are wonderful and each adds something different to the film.  Jodie Comer as both Guy's in game player friend and brilliant programmer is fun in her two roles.  You get to see her as a confident game character and a slightly less confident but still capable person.  Lil Rel Howery is very funny as Guy's NPC best friend, and Joe Keery shows his versatility by playing another programmer who works at Free City's developer Soonami.  And Taika Waititi is toxic but funny as Antwan, the head of Soonami.

But what stands out most about Free Guy is that the movie was clearly made by those who love video games.  From the references to the over the top characters and the ridiculous action, the film is a love letter to video games.  It is one part PUBG, one part Fortnite, and one part Grand Theft Auto, but all of it is very funny.  From repeating missions, insane cosmetics, ridiculous action, and glitches and game development bugs, this film is a wonderful movie for gamers and movie fans.

And overall, Free Guy is hilarious.  The film has a ridiculous setup and a too good to be true start, but once the film gets going there is plenty of fun.  And the film takes place in both the online and real world, with plenty of comedy for both.  Thankfully the world outside of Free City is hilarious as well, and seeing the programmers trying to improve the game and deal with an over the top boss is also quite funny.  And as mentioned, for video game fans there are plenty of references and Easter Eggs to laugh at.  And for action and movie fans, there are also plenty of references and cameos that will have you smiling.  

Free Guy is a love letter to video games and to Ryan Reynolds with an over the top premise, plenty of cameos and Easter Eggs, and a story that will have you cheering until it is game over. 

Watch it.

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Free Guy is in theaters on August 13, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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