“Freelance”

I really had a fun time watching “Freelance,” a meant-to-be-forgettable action comedy from director Pierre Morel. The film follows a tried and true formula, but with a few minor tweaks that work quite well.

Mason (John Cena) is an ex-military operative who has settled down with a wife (Alice Eve), daughter, and a law degree. He hasn’t taken well to his boring desk job, so when a friend from his past (Christian Slater) approaches Mason with a well paying freelance gig, he decides to take the easy money. Mason is tasked with providing private security for disgraced reporter Claire Wellington (Alison Brie) and accompanying her to a foreign country where she plans to conduct an exclusive, hard to get interview with the ruthless dictator Venegas (Juan Pablo Raba). As the journalist tries to make her comeback with the scoop of a lifetime, a military coup breaks out, leaving Mason, Claire, and Venegas together in the jungle to fend for themselves with one shared goal: to make it out alive.

The story is solid, and it works because it actually feels plausible. This isn’t some sort of rescue mission, but one where each character contributes to their mutual survival. Claire isn’t dumb and helpless, and Mason isn’t a muscle man lunkhead. Venegas even isn’t a terrible dictator, just a guy who is trying to do what’s best for his country. These are characters that I found easy to care about, and I rooted for all of them.

The movie relies heavily on the universal appeal of the ever-charming Cena, and he’s a guy that most everyone likes to be around. He gives off a friendly goofiness laced with a sincerity that plays well of his normally cold and unlikable co-star Brie. The casting is on point, and everyone is believable in their respective roles. Even the supporting performances from Raba as a dictator and Slater as Mason’s ex-special forces buddy are delightful.

The film is sparse on comedy, but the one-liners are funny and the action scenes are enjoyable. Since the film is rated R, there’s plenty of blood and violence (and cursing). It reminds me a little of “Romancing the Stone” (sans the romance part), which explains a lot of the film’s charm.

Nothing about “Freelance” is as generic as it could’ve been, and there are a lot of reasons I think it’s a success. This is an enjoyable, entertaining film that’s worth seeking out if you’re a fan of action and adventure movies.

By: Louisa Moore