Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Freelance Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 18, 2024

Director Pierre Morel’s career started off strong, overseeing the charming parkour entertainment of “District 13,” and he stunned the world with his efficient command of 2008’s smash sleeper, “Taken,” showing comfort with straightforward action storytelling. Everything post-“Taken” has been a disappointment, with Morel unable to replicate his largest hit, overseeing duds such as “The Gunman” and “Peppermint” over the years. He’s back in the genre with “Freelance,” which is initially presented as more of a comedy, following the activity of a reluctant hero trying to keep himself and other people alive in South American jungles. Laughs aren’t present in the feature, which eventually sheds its comedic interests, giving viewers a film of confusing tonality, while Morel hopes to cover for the mess of “Freelance” with bloody violence and quippy co-stars, adding another dud to his baffling career.

Mason (John Cena) elected to challenge his life long ago, joining the Army Special Forces, only to encounter an attack in the country of Caldonia, leaving him with a back injury and guilt over lost soldiers. Now a lawyer living in suburbia with his wife (Alice Eve) and child, Mason is left with a feeling of emptiness, and he’s facing a possible divorce. An old friend (Christian Slater) returns to view, with the fellow Special Forces man of action now in charge of Contracted Defense Initiatives, offering quick money for Mason to accompany journalist Claire (Alison Brie) to Caldonia, where she plans to interview President Juan (Juan Pablo Raba), a flashy but controversial authority figure. Right after their arrival, Mason, Claire, and Juan are attacked by a rebel army trying to stage a coup, putting the trio on the run in the jungle as they attempt to understand the chaos of the local government, which is being controlled by the Colonel (Marton Csokas), a South African mercenary fighting to install Juan’s nephew as the new president.

Morel hopes to open with some style, playing the main title sequence as a first-person adventure for Mason, who struggles with the direction of his life, ending up in law school before taking a chance on military service. It’s a profane, visually messy introduction to the character’s complicated way of thinking, but essential information is present, including Mason’s disastrous experience in combat, which has inspired him to retreat into domesticity, and now that’s falling apart. “Freelance” is scripted by Jacob Lentz, who does the sad dad routine, with Mason snapped back to life with a job offer, or a “milk run,” tasked with keeping an eye on Claire while she enters an unstable country the ex-military man has visited before. Claire was once a prized journalist, but now a disgrace, retaining some arrogance to help Lentz launch an opposites attract experience with “Freelance.”

Chemistry is sorely lacking between Brie and Cena, but “Freelance” needs them to be partners in a game of survival, joined by Juan, who’s a fancy man bewildered by all the aggression they encounter. Morel stages a decent attack sequence on a bridge, forcing Mason to demolition derby his way out of trouble, but that’s it for physical activity in the picture for quite some time, as Lentz hopes to launch a more dramatic understanding of power plays in Caldonia, where Juan’s nephew is pushed into the presidency by the Colonel, who’s preparing the country to be pillaged by corporations on the hunt for rare earth metals in the soil. “Freelance” dials down silliness to take the woes of a fictional country somewhat seriously, awkwardly returning to the dynamic between Mason and Claire, which begins with bickering and takes a strange turn into seduction just to satisfy some sexual tension requirement in the formulaic screenplay. A realistic level of mutual attraction would help, but it’s nowhere to be found.

Freelance Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.38:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Freelance" offers a clean look at frame information. Detail is strong throughout the viewing experience, providing a textured look at skin particulars with the various ages of the cast, along with makeup work detailing physical harm. Costuming is fibrous, and retains intended sheerness at times. Locations are dimensional, examining the expanse of jungle activity as the characters deal with violent attacks. Interiors are also deep, visiting village living spaces and offices, with decorative additions open for study. Primaries are defined, with a brighter, sun-blasted sense of color. Greenery is distinct. Costuming carries more vivid hues at times, along with signage and celebratory decoration. Skin tones are deep, with some golden bodies on display. Delineation is satisfactory. Brief, mild banding is present.

Freelance Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides an immersive listening experience for "Freelance." Surrounds are active, perking up with scenes of violence and confusion, creating opportunities for panning effects, including swirling helicopter movement. Gunfights are also active, offering a circular sense of danger. Musical moods push out as well, and scoring cues are defined, with sharp instrumentation throughout. Dialogue exchanges are crisp, handling accents and comedic timing. Argumentative behavior is balanced. Low-end supplies weight with explosions. Atmospherics are appreciable, handling community bustle and jungle activity.

Freelance Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:28, HD) is included.

Freelance Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Morel can't get "Freelance" up and running, stuck with subpar visual effects and miscast actors, including Csokas, who's absolutely dreadful here, emerging as the wrong person to portray a hardened killer. Pacing is torpedoed by all the government asides, and the light-ish tone of early scenes is gradually replaced by concern as Mason starts to grasp what's going on, watching Juan at work, also visiting rural parts of Caldonia. More violent events are examined in the picture, but they're somewhat rare for what's initially presented as an actioner, making for a bewildering sit at times. It's difficult to care deeply about cartoonish characters, leaving "Freelance" open to become more of a snowballing good time with frazzled players in a dangerous game. Geopolitical worries have no place here, quickly shutting down whatever fun factor Morel originally had in mind.