by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
I just got back from the Ryan Reynolds vehicle “Free Guy”and it was pretty good. For once I didn’t walk out from a movie the moment it reached the inciting incident.
I can see how this movie was probably pitched as “The Matrix meets Ready Player: One meets The Truman Show.” It definitely had the vibe of a movie drafting off of movie-going race memory of The Matrix. “What if The Matrix was a comedy?”
The movie sells itself, in that respect.
But this definitely being a Ryan Reynolds vehicle is all over this movie. One thing that was interesting to me was that Jodie Comer was given a make under. She’s a beautiful woman and yet the producers made sure to make Reynolds the center of attention. Though, there were a few times during the movie when I couldn’t figure out who the protagonist was supposed to be.
And, yet, I was pleased with the movie overall. It was sold entertainment and it had Reynolds’ established sensitive male sense of humor that has been pretty consistent throughout much of his Hollywood career.
It is notable that the female lead’s name was “Mille” and the guy who was in love with her is one of the stars of Stranger Things. Makes you wonder how the decision to name the character that was made.
Anyway, I really liked Free Guy. It even gave me some inspiration as to how to make the third act of the first book in the thriller series I’m working on more — thrilling.
