Free Guy

Before you go any further there's one question for you. Do you play computer games? Or more accurately, have you played a computer game in the last 20 years? If the answer is yes, then proceed with caution. If the answer is no, stop reading now and go about your day.

Free City's an unusual place. Tanks roam the streets, people burning from head to toe run around screaming and financial institutions are robbed with alarming regularity but the citizens of the city never even bat an eyelid. It's because they are NPC's (Non playable characters), created to fill the streets of the most popular video game on earth. One of these NPC's is Guy (Ryan Reynolds), a bankteller who does the exact same thing every single day of his life, until one day he sees the woman of his dreams and he steps off his beaten path into a whole new world of wonder. The woman is the avatar of Millie (Jodie Comer), a programmer who's coding was stolen from her and used to create Free City. Her mission is to search this computer generated metropolis until she finds the information she needs. But she might require assistance and who better to help her than one of it's digital denizens.

As soulless blockbuster films go Free Guy is one of the better looking ones but there's nothing else here. It's fast food cinema. An hour after it's over you'll be hard pressed to remember much about it. It's story of a man realising his entire existence is a lie was done a thousand times better 23 years ago in The Truman Show. That was a story with heart and substance. Here we get smug one liners, glib encounters and so much CGI your eyes will start twitching 30 minutes in. Add in Ryan Reynolds in full Ryan Reynolds mode and it's a recipe for a big ol' headache. The odd blockbuster is worth a pain in the brain but this film doesn't do a tap to earn it. It's most crowdpleasing moment is a cheap one, stolen directly from Hollywood's two biggest franchises. If you've kids with you they may cheer but your eyes will roll at yet another reminder that Disney now owns everything. It's not quite as cringy as Ready Player One but it's close.

Jodie Comer plays two parts in this, Millie and her computer game counterpart. CGC Millie is the one punching, kicking and killing her way across Free City but real Millie is one of the few good things about this film with Comer's expressive acting giving us one character that feels some bit real. Sadly the real life part of the film also gives us Taika Waititi turning into a horribly thin, one note performance as her code thief boss Antwan that shows he's at his best behind the camera. Every time he opens his yap the little bit of life left in the film dissipates and by the axe wielding, city dissolving climax that he's slap in the middle of you'll be well beyond the point of caring.

Free Guy is in cinemas everywhere now. If you've a gamer in your life you might get something from it. If not don't bother.