We sometimes get bored of the action films of the 1980s: Commando, First Blood, Romancing the Stone… We wonder why the simple and effective formula of these cult works could not be adapted to today’s cinema.
Then we look at Freelance and we understand that those days are over. Or, at least, that the magic of these films cannot be easily duplicated.
Because it is indeed the old formula that we borrow here: a man with big arms (John Cena), a defenseless woman (Alison Brie), a dictator (Juan Pablo Raba), the jungle and a lot of guns. The tone, however, is that of comedy. But we’re not laughing. The best joke is in the credits bloopers!
It’s a shame, because John Cena and Alison Brie can be funny. He demonstrated this on a few occasions, especially in the series Peacemaker, while she appeared in numerous films in addition to the series Community and GLOW.
The ex-wrestler plays Mason Pettits, a former special forces soldier who reluctantly becomes a lawyer – and father – following the failure of his last mission. His marriage in disarray, he accepts a private security contract from his former colleague (Christian Slater, there for the payroll). Mason must ensure the protection of journalist Claire Wellington who goes to Paldonia to interview President Venegas. Unfortunately for Alison Brie and Juan Pablo Raba, the texts of screenwriter Jacob Lentz (Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show) do not allow them to interpret credible characters.
Although it is a “comedy”, the story is based on the political tension of this fictional South American country in which there is a rebellion, a coup d’état and a foreign invasion. Despite the importance of the stakes, the film by Pierre Morel (Taken) is very boring. The action consists of hide-and-seek games, slow-motion chases – the one on horseback is unintentionally hilarious – and endless shootouts.
More interminable are the repetitive dialogue scenes between the characters. The trio at least becomes more likeable as the adventure goes on, but never to the point of hoping for anything other than the film to end quickly.
