What to Watch This Weekend: Free Guy, CODA, Raging Fire, Respect, Slasher Flesh and Blood, Luca, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Easy Does It

For A Heartfelt Family Drama: CODA (Theaters and Apple TV+)

CODA is a treat for the eyes and ears, with a beautiful look at a tight knit family that faces both unique and universal challenges as they struggle to deal with life, growing together, and growing apart.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Next Level Video Game Comedy: Free Guy (Theaters)
Free Guy is a love letter to video games and to Ryan Reynolds with an over the top premise, plenty of cameos and Easter Eggs, and a story that will have you cheering until it is game over.   For more information, check out the review!

For A Martial Arts Police Procedural: Raging Fire (Theaters)

Raging Fire is a showcase for Yen and Tse, with fantastic, brutal action, great style, and a police procedural plot that pits these two superstars against each other in a climactic conclusion.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Soulful Docu-Drama: Respect (Theaters)

Respect's all star cast and courage to explore the good and the bad of Aretha's journey will give you a new appreciation of the Queen of Soul's life, music, and the challenges that crafted this strong icon.  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Throwback Action Thriller: Those Who Wish Me Dead (Redbox)

Those Who Wish Me Dead is a 90s style action thriller with an all star cast and great direction.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Kids: Luca (Redbox)
Luca is in the vein of A Little Mermaid, but its beautiful animation, imaginative story, and focus on tolerance and being yourself is a timeless message that appeals to kids and adults alike!  For more information, check out the review!

For A Horror-Based Family Drama: Slasher: Flesh and Blood (Shudder)

Slasher: Flesh and Blood has a Knives Out feel, with a dysfunctional family forced back to the patriarchs estate for a deadly reunion.  I liked the characters and the overall drama, as well as the addition of a killer in the midst!!

For A Fun, Indie Road Trip: Easy Does It (IMDBTV Free With Ads)

Easy Does It is a breath of fresh indie air. The film's cast of quirky, fun characters, entertaining story, style, and fantastic music fuels a wonderfully enjoyable road trip!  For more information, check out our review!

Screening: Level Up Your Movie Night And See Free Guy Starring Ryan Reynolds

We have partnered with Twentieth Century Studios for an early screening of the best video game movie ever made, Free Guy!  The film is coming to theaters on August 13, 2021, but you can check it out early and free!  Details and entry form are below!

Free Guy

Director:
Shawn Levy 

Writers:
Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn

Starring:
Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Taika Waititi

Synopsis:
In “Free Guy,” a bank teller who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, decides to become the hero of his own story…one he rewrites himself. Now in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way…before it is too late.

Rating:
PG-13

 Screening Info:

Free Guy

Wednesday, August 11
7:00pm

Regal Majestic

900 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD

Screening Link!

Free Guy Review: Level Up Your Movie Game With This Hilariously Fun Film

Release date: August 13, 2021
Running time: 110 minutes
Director: Shawn Levy 
Writers: Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Joe Keery, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Taika Waititi

In “Free Guy,” a bank teller who discovers he is actually a background player in an open-world video game, decides to become the hero of his own story…one he rewrites himself. Now in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way…before it is too late.

Free Guy is a love letter to videogames built on top of Ryan Reynolds wonderful character.  Guy is vintage Ryan Reynolds with a charming, good natured, and too good to be true personality.  But that is by design; Guy is an Non Player Character in the online game Free City, and as such his life revolves around playing this game and keeping the players happy.  However, one fateful day he has a run in that changes his entire world.  And when he starts to change, the film takes off.  It is hilarious to see Reynolds learn more about video game tropes and to start to come to terms with what he can do.  But he is not alone, the whole cast of the film are wonderful and each adds something different to the film.  Jodie Comer as both Guy's in game player friend and brilliant programmer is fun in her two roles.  You get to see her as a confident game character and a slightly less confident but still capable person.  Lil Rel Howery is very funny as Guy's NPC best friend, and Joe Keery shows his versatility by playing another programmer who works at Free City's developer Soonami.  And Taika Waititi is toxic but funny as Antwan, the head of Soonami.

But what stands out most about Free Guy is that the movie was clearly made by those who love video games.  From the references to the over the top characters and the ridiculous action, the film is a love letter to video games.  It is one part PUBG, one part Fortnite, and one part Grand Theft Auto, but all of it is very funny.  From repeating missions, insane cosmetics, ridiculous action, and glitches and game development bugs, this film is a wonderful movie for gamers and movie fans.

And overall, Free Guy is hilarious.  The film has a ridiculous setup and a too good to be true start, but once the film gets going there is plenty of fun.  And the film takes place in both the online and real world, with plenty of comedy for both.  Thankfully the world outside of Free City is hilarious as well, and seeing the programmers trying to improve the game and deal with an over the top boss is also quite funny.  And as mentioned, for video game fans there are plenty of references and Easter Eggs to laugh at.  And for action and movie fans, there are also plenty of references and cameos that will have you smiling.  

Free Guy is a love letter to video games and to Ryan Reynolds with an over the top premise, plenty of cameos and Easter Eggs, and a story that will have you cheering until it is game over. 

Watch it.

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Free Guy is in theaters on August 13, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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