Free Guy was, like many films, subject to release date adjustments due to the pandemic. Upon its eventual premiere, I attended with high expectations fueled by the trailer, which suggested a film perfectly aligned with my interests – and it delivered.
Guy (Ryan Reynolds) resides (unbeknownst to him) within the digital open-world game, Free City. This environment is characterized by its chaotic nature, featuring frequent shootouts and explosions. Guy is employed at a bank, experiencing robberies approximately every half hour. This is considered a normal occurrence for him. However, his reality shifts upon encountering Molotov Girl (Jodie Comer), expanding his horizons. Molotov Girl enlists Guy’s assistance for a mission that promises to reveal aspects of his world previously unimaginable to him.
Free Guy draws inspiration from other films within the the-world-isn’t-what-you-think genre. Resemblances are apparent to The Truman Show, influencing Guy’s inability to perceive the anomalies within his environment. Furthermore, Molotov Girl’s (or Millie, as she is known in the real world) mission shares similarities with Flynn’s adventure in the Disney film TRON. Nevertheless, the filmmakers successfully establish the film’s unique identity.
Ryan Reynolds delivers a strong comedic performance, embodying a character archetype familiar to his filmography, yet executing it effectively. Free Guy aligns seamlessly with his established style of humor and delivery. The film exhibits unexpected depth, evoking emotional responses. This is largely attributed to Reynolds’ chemistry with Jodie Comer, who makes her first major leading role with this film. Comer had a brief appearance as Rey’s mother in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, and has primarily been featured in British television roles (she will soon appear in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel). Comer’s charisma lends the film an unexpected gravitas.
In the real world, we are introduced to Millie’s former partner, Keys, portrayed by Joe Keery (Stranger Things), who delivers a compelling performance. Avoiding stereotypical portrayals of the data nerd, the character is depicted as competent and functional. A compelling antagonist is crucial for any successful film, and Free Guy delivers with Antwan, the boss and developer of the Free City game, played by Taika Waititi. Waititi is known as both a director and for his role as Hitler in JoJo Rabbit (he also directed Thor: Ragnarök and is involved with the fourth Thor film). Waititi’s unrestrained style is well-suited to the film’s over-the-top nature, enhancing the overall entertainment value.
The Blu-ray edition presents a sharp and stable picture, maximizing the capabilities of the format. Black levels are deep, and the colorful scenography is faithfully reproduced. However, the DTS – HD 7.1 audio track is notably quiet compared to other Blu-ray releases. Significant volume adjustment was required to achieve comparable levels, and the bass response remained underwhelming. A UHD edition of Free Guy is not available in Sweden, requiring import for those seeking it. Free Guy is also available on Disney+. While the streamed version’s picture quality is inferior, the audio is superior to the Blu-ray. This is unfortunate, as physical media generally offers a more robust and consistent experience. The Disney+ version lacks bonus content, whereas the disc includes substantial supplementary material, offering insights into the creation of key scenes, including the final battle against the Dude bot. This sequence exemplifies Disney’s strengths, and features a memorable cameo.
In conclusion, Free Guy would have received a higher rating, if not for the Blu-ray’s audio shortcomings. Therefore, it earns a strong recommendation.
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