Forget ‘Deadpool,’ Ryan Reynolds’ Best Sci-Fi Movie Is Waiting To Be Rediscovered

Ryan Reynolds is easily one of the most famous actors in the world. Whether it’s from his romcom days in films like The Proposal, or his real-life pursuits of success with Wrexham A.F.C., or even Reynolds’ Aviation Gin, it’s an extremely hard task to find someone who doesn’t know the name Ryan Reynolds. But none of these products, football clubs, or other films are as synonymous with the Canadian actor as the Deadpool movies. Utilizing his bubbly charisma, Reynolds created one of the most popular superheroes in modern memory.

Yet, there is another sci-fi action movie that allows Reynolds to explore a different aspect of his comedy in a way that is just as lovable as Deadpool’s crude cynicism: Free Guy. Released in 2021, Free Guy delivers an accessible, heartfelt message about sincerity, using video games as the perfect vehicle and serving up energetic action and delightfully absurd comedy. It may not have made as much money as Deadpool & Wolverine, but Free Guy sits right alongside as one of Reynolds’ best performances and overall films.

What is ‘Free Guy’ About?

Free Guy primarily follows Guy (Ryan Reynolds), a non-playable character, in the open-world multiplayer video game Free City, a vibrant, densely populated setting that feels strikingly similar to Grand Theft Auto V. At the start, Guy is merely someone who lives the same day every day, caught up in the chaos created by the “sunglasses people” as Guy names them due to the glasses each player wears. When Guy gains sentience and steals another player’s glasses, he accidentally becomes the most popular gamer, threatening to derail the plans of the money-hungry Antwan (Taika Waititi), the CEO of the company that makes Free City. While Guy is a naive, fun-loving character, Antwan’s cynicism creates a clear thematic battle between kindness and selfishness that making it impossible not to root for Guy at every turn, especially since his goal is only to get the attention of Millie (Jodie Comer), another gamer he falls in love with.

For video game fans, Free Guy is perhaps one of the most fun interpretations of a multiplayer, open-world game put on the screen. Free Guy embraces video game absurdism, with action that sees Guy accidentally use power-ups that launch him hundreds of feet in the air, only to fall on his face. As he becomes more skilled, leveling up to impress Millie, the audience is reminded of their own journeys, going from a “noob” to a pro.

Ryan Reynolds’ Performance in ‘Free Guy’ is a Refreshing Switch Up From ‘Deadpool’

Image via 20th Century Studios

Ryan Reynolds is one of the most popular actors for a reason. He delivers performances that are comforting to watch and make audiences laugh, and his approach to Free Guy and how different it is to Deadpool is exactly why this film works so well. While Deadpool is upbeat and funny, it’s his sarcasm that defines him. In contrast, Guy is truly sincere, wearing a toothy smile throughout that frames all of his actions as innocent. This separates him from other action heroes and makes Free Guy a unique experience for action fans, where he isn’t the grizzled warrior, like Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) or the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger).

Instead, the way he falls in love with Millie, making a huge effort to level up just so he can talk to her, makes for a romance and argument in favor of kindness that gives Free Guy a depth one might not expect, layering the story. When Guy is with Millie, Reynolds hunches his shoulders and keeps his head low, giving Guy an adorably meek quality and casting him as an underdog in the audience’s eyes, far removed from how Deadpool is usually perceived.

Overall, there are few better ways to spend your evening than sitting back and relaxing with Free Guy. As far as video game interpretations go, Free Guy is up there with one of the best, understanding the bizarre and unrealistic nature of video games and how you can truly be anyone you want to be when in the game. In doing so, Free Guy also embraces a positive message about changing your life for the better, even when it should be impossible, with Ryan Reynolds carrying that message like he was born to do so. It may not be what he is remembered for, but Free Guy showed a side to Reynolds we don’t often get to see, and it is all the better for it.

Free Guy

Release Date

August 13, 2021

Runtime

115 minutes