Dog’s Movie House: “Free Guy” One Of The Best Times You’ll Have At The Movies All Year!

“Free Guy” tells the story of Guy (Reynolds) a teller at the bank in the town of Free City. He’s mostly happy with his job along with his best friend, bank guard Buddy (Lil Rel Howery) and is fairly oblivious to the never ending cycle of violence that erupts around him on a daily basis. It turns out that Guy is actually an NPC (Non-Playable Character) in a massive Grand Theft Auto-style game called. . .you guessed it, Free City. But Guy is finding that he wants more. He wants love and to find the girl of his dreams, who just happens to appear in the form of Molotov Girl (Jodie Comer). Molotov Girl is actually an avatar for a player named Millie (also Comer) who is looking for evidence that her software was stolen by the guy who now owns Free City, a slimy boss named Antoine (played hilariously by Taika Waititi). In the real world, Millie and her ex-partner Keys (Joe Keery) have to figure out why Guy is acting so far beyond his programming an attracting so much attention that Antoine will actually destory the entire game before letting the truth come out. Meanwhile, inside the game, Guy and Molotov girl team up and Guy learns that, despite being only a video game, his world and very life are at stake.

If this sounds plot heavy than you’d be right but Levy and screenwrites Zak Penn and Matt Lieberman make it so easy to follow that the story becomes compelling even if you don’t give a rip about massive online video games. If you’re a player than the Easter Eggs and cameos by famous gamers (most of which I didn’t recognize at all) will probably enhance portions of your cinematic experience, but overall the film is accessible to everyone. It’s essentially a film about being yourself and finding your way in the world, be it digital or real, and that’s a message to which anyone can relate.

That’s not to say “Free Guy” is an existential slog. Not at all. The film balances emotion, comedy, and some pretty terrific action as and the screen is constantly in motion. There are some great cameos, such as Chris Evans and Channing Tatum, that are laugh out loud funny. And since this is a Disney film and Disney owns every franchise, like, ever, Levy and his crew are able to throw in more than their share of pop culture legends, especially in the film’s second half where there are a couple of scenes that had the audience clapping and cheering.

The cast is uniformly outstanding, with Reynolds leading the way with an innocence to Guy that tamps down the snark factor Reynolds is usually known for. Guy is still a funny guy, but his sweet nature keeps the danger of him becoming a smug ass to the bare minimum. It’s a truly winning performance. Comer, Keery, and especially Waititi as the arrogant villain are also all great.

I’ll end the review here so as not to inadvertantly give anything away. Just go see “Free Guy” and bring you’re entire family if you’re able. It’s a fun movie for all ages that tells a timeless story while successfully intergrating the culture of the now into the narrative. It’s one of the best times you’ll have at the movie theater all year! 4 1/2 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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