Free Guy (2021) User Reviews

Actually really good.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 14 August 2021]

I did not expect that, this was chosen literally for convenience, I'd seen the trailers, and didn't think I'd enjoy it, it is so good. I'm sometimes hard to please with films, but this is definitely worth seeing. It's bonkers, it's crazy, but it's funny, and actually pretty moving at times, a more heart warming film then you'd think it would be.

Some pretty amazing special effects, it is never boring at any stage.

Ryan Reynolds is terrific, and fans if his will appreciate him being here, he's great, as is Comer.

I didn't expect it to be this good, 8/10.

How likeable is Ryan Reynolds!?

[keeverj · 8/10 · 14 August 2021]

This movie was much better than I expected. It was enjoyable throughout, paced well, and cast exceptionally. The major strength of this movie is in how damn likeable this cast is. I'm not sure anyone could have done this other than Ryan Reynolds. I'd recommend a watch.

Surpassed my expectations

[mostafaaboseif · 8/10 · 11 August 2021]

I entered the movie expecting to laugh out loud, and I did. Ryan Reynolds and Taika Waititi are comedic geniuses. What I didn't expect is the great chemistry between Ryan and Jodie Comer. Their relationship carried the movie.

Also, the trailer and the first act made us believe that it's the generic "we live in a simulation" movie like many others. But, as we progress, the movie becomes its own thing. And it's fantastic.

A cute idea...though the first 20 or so minutes is by far the best.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 26 February 2022]

For the first 20 or so minutes of "Free Guy" I was enthralled. As I watched the film on HBO Max, I called my wife over the watch and we both laughed and enjoyed the film. However, as the film progressed the movie lost some of its momentum...and this slowed to a crawl later in the movie. Why? Well, the same problem with "Free Guy" is the same with "Pokémon Detective Pikachu" (incidentally, both starring the likable Ryan Reynolds)....plot. Or, more like it, too much plot. Both films did great jobs world building but after that, they both seemed to insist too much on a plot involving a baddie...which is very formulaic but also reduced the magic from the story. I would have rather seen more of the exciting world in both...and less baddies.

The story is an odd one...one that is similar to combining "The Truman Show", "Pokémon Detective Pikachu", "They Live", and an online game that plays a bit like "Grand Theft Auto"! And, the main character, Guy (Reynolds), is an NPC (a non-player character) in a massive world created for online gamers. However, something odd happens.... Guy begins to develop consciousness...and it is driven home when he dons a pair of sunglasses. Suddenly, he can see power ups, health power ups and more! What's next? Well, a baddie...and one whose motivations were vague.

Overall, the film is still worth watching...it's good. But the momentum which is going so fast when the film begins just can't be maintained through the course of the film.

By the way, there are no extra scenes. When the movie ends and the end titles begins, the story is over...just in case you're tempted to keep watching.

The feel-good film for summer 2021 with a typically hilarious Ryan Reynolds

[JoelAlexanderr · 9/10 · 24 August 2021]

One glance at FREE GUY, the newest big budget offering from Hollywood's favorite action-star/comedy master Ryan Reynolds, will cause most to approach with valid skepticism. The plot seems like a cheap knockoff of films like Ready Player One or even The Matrix, but made in a crude fashion to make more money at the box office. The actual movie, however, could not be further from the worst estimates. Not only is FREE GUY constantly hilarious due to Reynolds and an inventive screenplay, and not only is this possibly the feel-good event of the summer, but it also has a considerable amount of thought put into the meaning of its premise and places a mirror in front of modern-day video game culture.

To put it simply, perhaps the main reason this movie comes together so well is because of Ryan Reynolds' constant charisma and hilarity. Most of his dialogue is clearly either written by him or created by him on the spot (I have no idea how he hasn't received a screenwriting credit for this and the Deadpool movies), and the film is that much better as a whole because of it. He also interacts with the other actors in the film very well, including Jodie Comer and Joe Keery, two underrated actors who prove here that they aren't just one-time stars from their respective television shows (Killing Eve and Stranger Things). The ensemble combines to create the most consistently funny movie of 2021 so far.

However, this movie isn't just hilarity and crazy antics, although it could easily get by on those aspects alone. FREE GUY has tons of heart and authenticity despite its virtual reality-based plot, and is about very human emotions such as disillusionment, the feeling of being trapped, and, of course, love. There are times where the heartwarming aspects of this film resemble a charming romantic comedy and others where it gets so existential that it almost feels like The Truman Show. It never dives quite as deep as the latter film, but the fact that it even has the guts to include these themes made this easygoing big-budget movie a far better watch for me. Sure, the last thirty minutes are very cheesy and contain a lot of clichés, but the buildup is so solid that it earns some dumb rom-com moments near the end.

FREE GUY is worth going to see because it is one of the few quality films right now that increases one's faith in human nature. Lately I feel as though I have lost my faith in humanity with all that is happening in the world, so it is refreshing to get a movie that feels confident in the human experience. Maybe I'm looking too deep into the message of FREE GUY and maybe it was conceived just so Ryan Reynolds could screw around for two hours, but either way the price of admission is well worth it for an amazing time at the theater.

A-

Surprisingly good

[bgmagic22 · 7/10 · 26 September 2021]

Succeeded my expectations. I was anticipating a cheesy action 'comedy' with little to no comedy but Free Guy is a feel good movie that's actually funny & entertaining.

Free Guy is popcorn movies at its best.

[Dunkaccino · 8/10 · 12 August 2021]

Ryan Reynolds is guy, a NPC living in the game Free City. He met Jodie Comer's character and discovers things about his world. There's also a real life part of the film, with Joe Keery, Jodie Comer again, and Taika Watiti.

These are all great names. And with amazing direction, an original idea and great execution is what makes Free Guy such an endlessly entertaining film.

This is a short review because i want to let you see it yourself and be amazed by how good Free Guy actually is.

Did I enjoy it? Yes. Is it a flawless masterpiece? Maybe not. Did I smile throughout the whole film just because how fun it is? Hell yeah.

Fun but not great

[butler-josh · 6/10 · 20 August 2021]

I found this film to be a mix of films such as Ready Player One, Groundhog Day and The Truman show but not as good as any of these films. The story is a bit bland and apart from the main character some of the others aren't written that well especially the films antangonist who just comes off as cringey.

There's also constant references that are thrown at the audience which become too on the nose at times and the inclusion of well known streamers and you tubers got old quick. However, if you can switch your mind off for the run time there are some good jokes in the film and some fun scenes and it can be a somewhat enjoyable watch despite its flaws.

FEEL-GOOD ESCAPISM

[Emin96 · 9/10 · 18 August 2021]

I've never written a review on here before but, with everything going on in 2021, 'Free Guy' allowed me to forget about the world for a couple of hours - and for that it deserved one!

Firstly, the role of "Guy" was MADE for Ryan Reynolds. It would be a crime to audition anyone else and you could tell he enjoyed playing it. Great work too by Jodie Comer ("Millie") - and Channing Tatum ("Revenjamin Buttons") who literally made me laugh out loud which is no mean feat. Solid supporting cast too, although I could take-or-leave Taika Waititi despite appreciating his flair.

The story itself is simply enjoyable; if you watched the trailer, leave your preconceptions at the door. Artificial intelligence and open-world gaming has the potential to snowball into a complex idea for some, but 'Free Guy' is neither obnoxious nor existential. It is pure colour, fast-paced, funny, creative, and (better yet) UNIQUE.

The special effects are impressive; the soundtrack is uplifting, mainly thanks to a Mariah Carey classic; and I walked out the cinema with a smile on my face! Well done.

Virtually a good movie

[cricketbat · 6/10 · 13 February 2022]

Much like the virtual world in which the people of Free City live, the movie Free Guy is virtually a good movie. Most of the elements of a good movie are there, but it feels artificial, and you can tell that something is off. It's entertaining enough, and I appreciated the pop culture references and action sequences, but frankly I preferred this version of the story when it was called The Lego Movie.

Basic cash grab

[pnickovich-781-88739 · 4/10 · 19 November 2022]

Target audience - 12 year old fortnight players and teenage fangirls, and it shows. The Humor, the "romance" and references all come across as immature and unfortunately have been normalised to an entire generation living in an online reality.

No real concept. Just a whole bunch of gamer references and cameos.

If it wasn't for Reynolds' star power nobody would have paid this movie any mind.

A few funny one liners and cut scenes (as expected frol Ryan jist being Ryan), a bunch of good cameos and a whole bunch of pop culture references and mediocre CGI is apparently all it takes to make a summer blockbuster these days.

I didnt hate the movie, but the generic plot went on for too long.

I Wlwill never understand how the imdb ratings become distorted but its definitely not a 7. Have a blessed day.

Video Game Movie Done Right

[qwmarcus · 7/10 · 13 August 2021]

While the majority of video game movies suck due to not being like the game they're based on, Free Guy has the advantage of being an original story based in a video game. Ryan Reynolds performance as Guy is great as per usual, the plot is original enough to be interesting, and the comedy (for me) hits right! Without getting into the spoilers, the pop culture references work better than expected. The only complaint I have is the streamer cameos were kind of dumb and they spent way too much time with them. Besides that Free Guy is a great popcorn movie and I highly recommend it!

Truman show the video game

[nataliedeakin-00136 · 8/10 · 11 August 2021]

Think the Truman show if it was set in a video game. The self aware comedy and cameos were amazing. A great cast and wonderful writing/directing. Definitely worth the watch.

Ryan Reynolds and great CGI, but everything else was amateur.

[mike-c-b · 6/10 · 12 September 2021]

Taika Waititi didn't nail down the villain character well enough, instead of evil ideas he went with "who cares", including every dialogue piece. So he breaks the 4th wall from fake acting when ever he speaks. His supporting characters come across patronising for no reason.

The other two main good characters are young and haven't developed their own personality - they mostly smile and say all the right things. Sometimes posing in hero shots, sometimes smoothly arguing with volume for no reason. - Totally the opposite of calm collected rebels letting off steam, which is what the Players in the game are about.

If you watch it for Reynolds, his character's best friend, and the CGI, it's worth it.

Lego the Movie meets the Matrix

[fightingmink-297-266802 · 7/10 · 13 August 2021]

It gave me that Master Builder meets Neo vibe. Down to songs, "Everything is Awesome" and Mariah's "Fantasy" playing constantly in the background.

Nevertheless, I really, really enjoyed this movie with my wife and son, along with 3 others in the theater. It felt good coming back to an actual theater. I always waited at the end of a movie's run until I go out watch and this kind of felt like that. But, this was the very first movie I watched on opening day. And this was a real good one to watch.

Grand Theft Auto meets Sims

[misangrelatina · 10/10 · 12 August 2021]

Omg what an amazing movie , so funny , such a great way to send a message to us, We can be whatever we want. Amazing cameos , so crazy cool!

Non-sensical

[TheSaurian · 5/10 · 12 September 2021]

This movie does not make any sense whether it's with how the game world functions (Ryan Reynold's life seemingly takes place in one game server, but regardless of whether it takes place in one server or multiple simultaneously the mechanics behind it don't make sense) or the decisions made in the outside world (such as wanting to create self-aware AI in a video game in the first place). There are various times where it seemed that the writer's have never played a video game before, and there is multiple "fellow kids" moments. The word "troll" is used multiple times, but the writers don't seem to actually know what that words means as indicated by how it is used. There are some enjoyable moments, and the movie is decently entertaining. However, there are also various moments that were pretty annoying. You definitely need to turn your brain off for this movie, and more so than in other comedies because of this non-sensical video game world that they created. Definitely not deserving of absurdly high score that it has received, but it's not terrible either.

"They Live" meets "The Truman Show"

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 23 March 2022]

Shawn Levy's Academy Award-nominated "Free Guy" is an homage to/parody of the whole culture surrounding multiplayer online games. The movie has gotten compared to "The Truman Show", but I also noticed a connection to John Carpenter's "They Live" (the scene where Guy puts on the sunglasses reminded me of it). There's also a sense of the underrated "Ready Player One".

Unabashedly over-the-top, you're sure to love it.

Hilarious and Heartwarming

[bored_2004 · 10/10 · 11 August 2021]

I had the joy of seeing this tonight at Odeon "Screen Unseen". I was a little unsure at first, since the trailer made it look somewhat juvenile and slapstick. However, this movie completely exceeded any expectations I had. The storyline is so well done and very engaging - great characters who you really care about. They make you laugh and smile, with some romance thrown in along the way! All the performances were brilliantly done and the comedy was just so well timed and actually very funny - I was expecting some cringe.. but it was just brilliant. Highly recommend this one!

This Guy is the man!

[dorlando-86904 · 7/10 · 29 September 2021]

This movie looked to be pretty good from the beginning and didn't disappoint. Very entertaining and a good storyline. The effects were great and the action scenes were pretty cool. How could you not be rooting for this Guy!

I had no idea I'd love this movie sooooooo much

[lhbaker-28783 · 9/10 · 28 August 2021]

I came into this movie thinking that it would be a very good movie. But Free Guy is so much more than a very good movie! It has amazing sci-fi action with superb effects. Hilarious comedy. A great romance-drama that actually is not just a side thing. Plus great acting. The fact that they put this all together in barely over two hours is unfathomable. Free Guy is such an insanely incredible movie that you need to watch right now! Because it's probably my 8th favorite movie ever! Not truly, but it is extremely entertaining.

As an avid gamer, I wanted to love this

[jackgdemoss · 6/10 · 14 August 2021]

...but I couldn't. The jokes just weren't landing! Sometimes I can feel that I am in a mood where it will be tough to laugh, but I was ready for a comedy today. I was invested enough in the story and appreciated some interesting video game tropes playing out, but it just wasn't the humor for me. This is especially surprising because I have historically loved Ryan Reynolds essentially playing himself, which is the case here. Ultimately, it is a feel good story that will keep your attention. Certainly not anything to bust down the theatre doors for.

Fun movie full of references.

[ijaka · 8/10 · 24 August 2021]

Its a good fun movie. Humor is good. Lots of references to other movies and games. Plot wise nothing special but its not why you watch this movie. Good fun! Like it. Thanks Ryan Reynolds. 😁

A decent popcorn movie

[grenage · 7/10 · 5 October 2021]

It's not deep, clever, or witty; it's basically the Truman Show for the next generation.

It is however very pretty and fast-paced. Ryan Reynolds is the same as ever, and that holds the film together.

Like a virtual Truman Show

[jaikishdelivera · 8/10 · 28 September 2021]

Really enjoyed it, and RR is awesome as usual. Visuals were great, character development and actor chemistry were on point and action was solid.

Exactly what a popcorn flick should be.