Guy is just your average bank teller living in what seems to be a daily loop, though he doesn’t realize the same thing happening over and over. That is until he meets the girl of is dreams and starts on a new journey of self recognition. It is here that he discovers his real world is only that of a video game, where he is just a bystander. He also learns quickly that the girl of his dreams is really a real life girl playing the game in order to discover her own game inside the popular, “Free City”. The question is will they be able to find the hidden code before the owner of “Free City” pulls the plug on everything.
At an hour and fifty five minute run time, Free Guy is ultimately a battle against game designers as we quickly learn the inner workings of a game designers mind through the eyes of the characters itself. Similarly, the film also brings light to the NPC’s (non playable characters) as it shows just how important these non essential characters really are to the games we love. Lastly there is an unexpected element of romance as the idea of Guy and his trigger to pull him out of the game stemmed from an unsuspected love interest between the two cocreators of the stolen game.
The film stars Ryan Reynolds as the simple yet complex driven Guy as he delves into the character with everything he has. His portrayal reminds one of how he pulled off the character of Deadpool. Even down the the breaking of the third wall, there were a lot of similarities to this role as Guy and Deadpool. Additionally, the girl of Guy’s dreams aka Molotov Girl is played by Jodie Comer as she steps out of her previous TV roles and on to the big screen in a two dimensional way. She does a great job of going from the character inside the game who is interacting with Guy as Molotov Girl and then seamlessly steps out of the screen into real life as Millie. One has to look twice to see if it truly is the same actress as she is so engaged in both roles. They are so different and yet hold a lot of the same characteristics between the two.
There are also a lot of cameo/ voiceovers which one would instantly notice including a nod to Captain America when Guy uses his shield as Chris Evans responds in a funny and yet risque way. Other actor cameos include Dwayne Johnson, John Krasinski, Hugh Jackman, Channing Tatum, Tina Fey and the late Alex Trebek to name a few.
Free Guy came out in theaters August 12 and in traditional Ryan Reynolds’ fashion, crude language and humor can be expected. Aside from that, the film will have you looking a video games in a whole new light. It’s currently playing in theaters and for the full effect, it is recommended to see it in the highest possible standard (Dolby or Imax). It really will make you feel as if you are in the game and not just watching it.