![]() ![]() While the film’s attempt at Truman Show-style social commentary about the nature of existence lacks the depth to truly resonate, it at least earns points for thematic ambition. The friendship between Guy and his fellow NPC, bank guard Buddy (Lil Rel Howery), who’s far less eager to break free from his narrow parameters, is genuinely touching, as are Molotovgirl’s growing feelings for the endlessly upbeat Guy. Thankfully, director Shawn Levy (the Night at the Museum franchise) does an excellent job delineating between the real and virtual worlds (Guy can see the difference when he puts on special glasses, much like Roddy Piper in John Carpenter’s They Live), with the lavish special effects and production design providing the sort of immersive experience gamers crave.Ĭo-screenwriters Zak Pen (who has some experience with this sort of thing, having written Ready Player One) and Matt Lieberman ( The Christmas Chronicles) provide plenty of in-jokes to their target audience, but also manage the more difficult feat of making us care about their characters, even the virtual ones. Got all that? It’s a little confusing, to be sure, especially if you haven’t spent countless hours lost in video games yourself. When Guy rebels and attempts to insert free will into his life, chaos results in the game, threatening Antwan’s lucrative franchise, which he’s intending to expand on with - what else - a sequel, “Free City 2.” Along the way, Millie, or at least her avatar Molotovgirl, finds herself falling for Guy, joining him in his efforts to save the only world he knows. The game was co-created by his 20something employees Keys (Joe Keery) and Millie (Comer), who lost control of their invention but frequently inject themselves into it as avatars. Unfortunately for Guy, there really isn’t, since he’s merely an NPC in an open-world video game called “Free City,” created by a company called “Soonami” headed by obnoxious, greedy mogul Antwan (a gonzo Taika Waititi, wildly but entertainingly over-the-top). So much so, in fact, that he begins to wonder if there’s something more to life. He does, however, react strongly to the sight of Molotovgirl (Jodie Comer, as terrifically badass here as in Killing Eve), a leather-clad biker chick on whom he develops an instant fixation. He has the same joyous reaction every time his barista presents him with his usual coffee order, and barely flinches when armed robbers storm his bank on a daily basis. ![]() Reynolds plays the aptly named Guy, who wakes up every morning in his minimally appointed apartment and proceeds to engage in the exact same daily routine working as a bank teller, wearing a never-changing outfit of a blue button-down shirt and khakis. ![]() Ryan Reynolds Marks Third Anniversary of DEI-Focused Group Effort Initiative With Call for More Productions to "Please Come on Board" ![]()
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