FREELANCE
US, 2023, 108 minutes, Colour.
John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Christian Slater, Marton Csokas, Alice Eve.
Directed by Pierre Morel.
Once upon a time, once upon a Cinema time, the used to be Saturday matinees, especially for children’s audiences. Lots of adventures, heroes, damsels in distress, serials and cliffhangers at the end of every episode…
Those days are long gone but there has been a long tradition since then of action adventures, often impossible situations, strong heroes (and, for some time now, always with guns), no longer damsels in distress – maybe the distress but strong-minded leading ladies who share in the action.
Freelance is one of these films. Some critics sadly will ask why? And audiences answer, why not!
The action heroes that we have become used to, Sylvester, Arnie…, are now in their late 70s (but still seeing themselves as Expendables). Here we have John Cena, in his 40s, big, square-jawed, champion wrestler and still commentator on WWE on film and television. He is more in the tradition of Dwayne Johnson are certainly not as charismatic.
Actually, there is quite a lot of comedy in Freelance. It may remind action movie buffs of Romancing the Stone, or more recently, The Lost City, traipsing through jungles, enemies in pursuit, and some deadpan dialogue. And, speaking of Expendables, some of the action may be considered in that vein.
And, speaking of vain, John Cena as Mason Pettiits, bored after heavy action overseas in his current work as a lawyer, persuaded to take up protecting an ambitious journalist, is not vain. But the president of the fictional Paldonia (think any Latin American country), definitely is. His played by Juan Pablo Raba who is clearly enjoying himself right throughout the film, and this is quite infectious for those who are willing as we enjoy his company – for most of the time very dapper, immaculately clean white suit, always buttoned, no matter what the crisis, no matter the weapons, no matter the danger.
Alison brie plays Claire Wellington, top journalist, award-winning, shamed when exposed is not researching her sources sufficiently, invited by the president to interview him checking with a security company (the head played by Mason’s former colleague, Sebastian, played by Christian Slater – who is eight years older than John Cena, but…). And, filming the coup, the fighting, she has the perfect television program for more awards.
So, it is that kind of film. It does have a contemporary justice moral, the reforms begun by the formally exploitative President, the influence and lobby of South African mercenaries (led by New Zealand actor, Marton Csokas, seen enjoying his little girl ballet dancing to Swan Lake and then, South African accent, becoming a snarling, menacing villain) and international companies wanting to exploit mineral resources for future technology, the battle for the poor and integrity.
Not high cinema, never intending to be, but under the direction of the French Pierre Morel (Taken, to Paris with Love, The Gunmen) it has been made for an enjoyable time off.
- A blend of action adventure with comedy? Successful?
- The settings, American military action overseas, the quiet town, home, legal office, the contrast with the big industrial company, and the Latin American country, town, government Palace, interiors, and the countryside? The musical score?
- The narration by Mason? As a boy, influences when young, ambitions, sense of self, studies, lawyer, enlisting, exhilaration in action, the loss of friends? At home, tensions, his cheeky daughter, his wife impatient? Moving out? At the office, the client and his enthusiasm, the contact from Sebastien, the offer, his taking it?
- Clare Wellington, seen on air, her reporting, the award, checking her facts, petty jobs, the invitation from the president? The need for protection? Sebastian employing Mason? The meeting, tension, the flight, his watching videos?
- The political situation, American interventions, the South African company, lobbying, precious metals and exploitation? The opposition and rebels? The president and his nephew as a figurehead for taking over?
- Juan Pablo Raba as the president, his enjoying the performance, meeting the plane, making everyone welcome, sense of self, the attack, violence and deaths, Mason rescuing them, on the run? His saving them after helicopter raid, his village, his friends, being welcomed? Casual clothes in the interview? His dapper white suit, always buttoned, never dirty, and, ultimately, bullet-proof? His acknowledgement of the past, his change of heart, working for the people?
- The introduction to the South African colonel, his daughter and Swan Lake? Going into action, his ruthlessness, his squad, mercenaries, ambitions? The pursuit of Mason and the president? Capturing Clare? Confrontations, deals and exchange? Trapping everyone in the village? The setup, the prisoner giving himself up, then all the rebels coming out in support of him, the confusion? At the palace, the invasion, the fights, the secret tunnels, the bullet-proof suit? The death of his nephew? Clare filming everyone? His future secured after his shooting the general behind the coup?
- Mason and Claire, odd couple, like Romancing the Stone, the adventures, shooting, riding the horses, Mason and his shooting, his war wounds and bad back? Phone calls to Sebastian? The helicopter raid and the pursuit? The discussions with the president, orders to kill him, listening to him, bonding? The action in the palace, the fight with the colonel, success? Returning home, reconciliation with his wife, the daughter – and the big cheque?
- The background of Sebastian, war companion, all his company, contracts, resources, offloading the South Africans, coming to the rescue?
- The popularity of this kind of blend of comedy and action?
