^{By: Amanda Guarragi}

Today’s generation is heavily invested in video games and different streaming platforms. Content is consumed by the second and it is created with such a high-level of enthusiasm. It seems as if the world has come together through watching others play video games, or watch movies, or even deliver on content we can laugh at. It’s more about resonating with others and going viral, than becoming famous on one specific platform. Whatever we love is cool now and that is a very good thing. The demographic has grown larger and playing video games, reacting to films/television shows, or making funny videos, are all things that are widely accepted and that is what is bringing us together.

The reason why Shawn Levy’s Free Guy works so well as an action comedy, is because it caters to those who love video games and creating content, while bringing in the likeability of one of the most charismatic leading men in Hollywood, Ryan Reynolds. Levy brings his audience into the world of ‘Free City’, where we meet a bank teller called Guy (Ryan Reynolds). After seeing the love of his life ‘MolotovGirl’ (Jodie Comer) he realizes he is a background character in an open world video game that will soon go offline. Reynolds, as per usual, is his delightful, charming self, with a smidge of optimism and a dash of sarcasm. He carries you through this fun CGI-fest, which actually looked polished.

We get to see a different side of Ryan Reynolds because, in a way, he is a supporting character in this movie. The real story is out in the real world with Millie (Jodie Comer) and Keys (Joe Keery), who have drifted apart after their video game model called ‘Life Itself’ was ripped away from them. Tech mogul, Antoine (Taika Waititi) is a money-hungry, arrogant boss, who takes Keys under his wing. We get to see both sides of the video game world. The creative process and coding that goes into making the video games, and how the characters within the game would process everything. And now with new VFX technology, it’s possible to create a movie like this and have it look wicked.

Shawn Levy’s Free Guy is entertaining, fun, and filled with wonderful surprises. It may be 20th Century Studios, but the IP is there and certain things are placed in the right spots to show off what they have. Reynolds is always fun to watch, but in all honesty, Comer and Keery add so much to this story. Levy knew when to pull you out of ‘Free City’ and into the actual world, behind-the-scenes with the coders, and that is why the editing was important. There are moments throughout where the pacing was off and it did drag in the middle. It felt overly long towards the end, and even the ending wasn’t strong enough. If you want to feel like you’re in a video game for a while, instead of sitting with a controller and playing one, then this is the movie to watch.