FREE GUY

3.5 out of 5 stars

This might just be the biggest summer surprise at the movies this year. This sci-fi action comedy is funny, inventive, smart, and full of heart. Ryan Reynolds sticks to what he knows, though his charm and wit that we love him for works perfectly in playing Guy – a video game NPC who’s surpassingly dewy-eyed and optimistic. Right there with him is his best bud Buddy, played by a scene-stealing Lil Rey Howery. They both work at the bank and couldn’t be more content. But when Guy spots the woman of his dreams, she and a pair of shades open up a whole new world for him. He and Millie (a splendid Jodie Comer) become a dynamic duo as they search for a secret level that could completely shut down Antoine (Taika Waititi), the game’s creator who has gotten rich off of Millie and her former coding partner Keys’ (Stranger Things’ Joe Keery) program.

For gamers, this is undoubtedly their jam. But even if you’ve never played a video game in your life – there’s no chance you won’t have fun while watching. Director Shawn Levy, along with writers Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn, create an astounding video game universe with plenty of awesome surprises everyone will get a kick out of. All the while, giving us a wonderful rom-com within the hijinks and slick action. Its message of freeing yourself and doing whatever you want to do adds a good amount of points as well. Free Guy can turn a good day at the theater into a great one.

Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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