Free Guy (2021)

Ide finds the film an irresistible, unabashedly sweet comedy with appeal beyond young gamers. She praises its goofy enthusiasm and pinballing energy.

O'Sullivan calls it a riotous, highly enjoyable action-comedy and possibly Ryan Reynolds’ best film. She especially praises Jodie Comer’s vulnerable performance and the film’s knowing, accessible gaming humour.

Crowther finds the film warm, witty, and upliftingly entertaining. She particularly praises its deft screenwriting, which gives the adventure emotional depth and timely ideas.

Cremona finds the film broadly enjoyable. He singles out Jodie Comer as its standout.

Scheck finds the film an entertaining, enjoyable entry in the video-game movie genre, though its social commentary lacks depth. He praises Ryan Reynolds’s performance and the film’s witty screenplay and technical execution.

Debruge finds the movie an entertaining, surprisingly original crowd-pleaser despite its overstuffed plot and shifting rules. He singles out Taika Waititi’s hilarious, larger-than-life performance as the greedy gaming-company owner.

Lane finds the film exhausting but ultimately charming, despite its incoherent and overstuffed spectacle. He especially praises Jodie Comer’s resourceful, amusing performances as Millie and Molotov Girl.

The standfirst frames the film as an action-comedy that needs bringing to life. The review text is behind a paywall, so its verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be determined.

Ehrlich finds the film an irresistible crowd-pleaser whose corporate contradictions ultimately undermine its message. He especially praises Jodie Comer’s charismatic performance, which he says helps hold the film together.

Dowd finds the film a chipper but derivative crowdpleaser that never reaches the existential depth of its premise. He criticizes Ryan Reynolds for keeping Guy at a shallow, gee-whiz level rather than conveying the character’s underlying desperation.

The review finds the film likable but overly familiar. It praises Ryan Reynolds’s comic energy while faulting the story’s reliance on video-game clichés.

Latif finds the film entertaining but ultimately a missed opportunity, held back by its real-world storyline and lack of conviction. She praises Reynolds’s comic presence, especially alongside Lil Rel Howery, and the existential moments between their characters.

The review calls the film fun but throwaway. It singles out the lively barbs between Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer in its video-game setting.

Smith argues that the film’s calls for artistic ingenuity and nonviolence are undermined by its own reliance on familiar intellectual property and violent-game spectacle. He praises the early scenes depicting the repetitive routines of the game’s non-player characters for their clever choreography and pacing.

The review finds the film visually entertaining but muddled and emotionally thin. It praises Jodie Comer’s performance as a bright spot, while criticizing Ryan Reynolds’s wisecracking and the story’s lack of coherence.

Ebiri finds the film derivative and uninspiring, though Ryan Reynolds makes it watchable. He praises Reynolds’s robotic charm but faults Shawn Levy’s lack of visual imagination.

Walsh finds the film glib and smug, with a story weakened by its corporate-property conflict. She notes its easy, breezy take on video game culture, but says it lacks the heart of comparable works.

Goldberg finds Free Guy a joyful, consistently funny crowd-pleaser that balances gaming culture with bigger existential themes. He singles out Shawn Levy’s deft direction and Ryan Reynolds’ charming performance, while criticizing Taika Waititi’s one-dimensional villain.

Sandwell finds the film a hilarious, inventive and joyful blockbuster, though its plot leaves deeper ideas underexplored. He especially praises the lovingly realised video-game world and the appealing cast.

The critic finds the film tremendously likeable and better executed than many blockbusters, despite a sentimental finish. They praise the lively visuals, gaming-culture send-ups and committed performances, especially Jodie Comer’s dual role.

Worthington finds the film imperfect but surprisingly solid, praising its sincerity and commitment to its hopeful ideas. He singles out Ryan Reynolds’s sweet, restrained performance as a welcome change from his usual fast-talking roles.

The critic calls Free Guy a hilarious and thoroughly entertaining surprise, despite an uneven narrative. They praise its visual effects, lively action, and celebration of modern gaming.

The critic finds Free Guy uneven but ultimately enjoyable, with warmth and absurdity outweighing its wasted potential. The cast’s enthusiasm, especially Taika Waititi’s over-the-top performance, is singled out for praise.

The critic finds the film entertaining, summery and inconsequential, while still well constructed and catchy. They praise its original humour and engaging construction, but note shortcomings in its handling of female characters and videogame logic.

TheWrap finds the film enjoyable and mildly compelling, though less inventive and articulate than it thinks it is. It praises Jodie Comer’s performance and the film’s heartfelt spectacle, while criticizing its racial politics and corporate-feeling franchise nods.

Walpole finds Free Guy an entertaining, solid blockbuster that tries to cover too much and feels derivative. He praises Jodie Comer and Joe Keery for bringing authenticity to the real-world storyline.

Hassenger finds that the film squanders its promising ideas with noisy distractions and clumsy comedy. He praises the sweetness and sparks in Reynolds and Comer’s scenes, while criticizing the exposition-heavy real-world plot and Taika Waititi’s performance.

Russell finds Free Guy entertaining and charming, but ultimately hollow and underwhelming. She praises the chemistry between Jodie Comer and Joe Keery, while faulting the film’s cliché romance and reliance on familiar franchise references.