"Freelance," the latest action flick from director Pierre Morel, can be likened to a roller coaster you didn't expect much from, yet still find yourself chuckling about as you leave the theme park. It’s a cinematic experience that sees John Cena's Mason Pettits swapping his mundane desk job for a trope-filled tropical turmoil, embodying the very adage "Be careful what you wish for."
The film, in its essence, is an escapade that refuses to take itself too seriously, and that's where the crux of its charm lies. You’ve got Mason, played with the brawny charisma only someone like Cena can muster, sticking out as the bulky guardian to Alison Brie’s Claire Wellington, a journalist whose grit is only surpassed by her inability to avoid hazardous situations. The pair, completed by Juan Pablo Raba's sharply attired and equally sharp-witted dictator, Juan Venegas, turn a would-be serious political crisis into a backdrop for antics and one-liners.
The dynamic between the despairingly professional ex-soldier and the feisty reporter oscillates between humorous and eye-roll worthy, hitting just enough of the right notes to forgive the most predictable quips. Meanwhile, Raba's Venegas is a paradox unto himself – villainy clad in designer suits, rendering even a coup d'état an opportunity for a wardrobe showcase.
Morally, this jungle jaunt presents a simplistic view of good versus evil, heroes versus villains, all the while winking at the audience with a self-awareness of what it is—a popcorn-munching, brain-off ride. It's like diving into a pulpy novel; you know what you're in for, and the pages turn themselves in a flurry of ridiculous scenarios that stack up like a Jenga tower of action-movie clichés.
Plot holes? Certainly. A conveyor belt of conveniences? Definitely. Yet, amid the glaring predictability, "Freelance" pauses occasionally to catch its breath and tosses in a scene or two that remind you that Morel knows his way around a thrilling sequence. These moments capture some semblance of the grit and momentum that made "Taken" a success, albeit with a less convincing narrative grip.
In conclusion, with a balance as delicate as walking a tightrope over a jungle chasm, "Freelance" lands a 6 out of 10. It's a score that reflects the movie's place as a brain-at-the-door fare, where it succeeds in making you root for the characters despite the odds—or perhaps the script—being against them. It’s dumb fun, plain and simple, and sometimes, that’s just the kind of cinematic escape that can make an evening feel surprisingly enjoyable.
