Freelancer is an American action-comedy film released in 2023 and directed by Pierre Morel, known for Taken and District B13. The film features John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Christian Slater, and Alice Eve. Combining elements of military action, political drama, and buddy comedy, Freelance offers viewers a lighthearted escapade, set in the enchanting yet treacherous landscape of a fictional South American nation.
While mostly untouched by rigid cinematic critique, the film attempts to blend power and media criticism with the all-too-familiar story archetype of a “man out of his comfort zone” plot. Along with some truly delightful moments, Freelance does serve as an easily digestible action film, courtesy of its lovable performers.
Synopsis
Mason Pettits is portrayed by John Cena, a singular character in a freelance role, a corporate lawyer who has long since hung up his uniform and serviced the elite as a Special Forces operative. Life as a civilian is quiet, and now devoid of tangible objectives, Mason exists in a state of lethargy, experiencing a shattering marriage, nagging void of restlessness, and yawning emptiness.
A new opportunity appears when his ex-military buddy, Sebastian Earle, offers him freelance security work. The job requires him to escort a journalist, Claire Wellington who is played by Alison Brie, to the warring nation of Paldonia. Wellington goes to conduct a special interview with its President, Juan Venegas (Juan Pablo Raba), who is a charming yet, unpredictable figure often exagerrated as a dictator.
What starts as a simple assignment soon becomes a deadly maelstrom. A military coup goes haywire during the interview and Claire, along with Mason and Ventas, are forced to escape into the jungle. The unlikeliest of all triads are both being chased by mercenaries and rebels. They are set with the difficult task of conquering the rough geographical features all the while eluding capture and learning to rely on one another despite their starkly stark differences.
Mason finds the urge to fight once more and clears the delusions she had of Paldonia. For Venegas, the liberator whom everyone thought he was, turns out there might be some truth to the assumption that he isn’t. As they are in dire straits of gunfire and betrayal, he might not be the dictator crafted by everyone’s narrative. Their journey is poorly planned for shootouts sprinkled with survival, stealth and unlikely bonds and laughter all set against the diabolical landscape of betrayal, comradeship, misfired gunshots, and wild jungles.
Cast & Characters
John Cena as Mason Pettits: A complex persona of a soldier who is now a struggling lawyer dealing with PTSD. A forgotten side of him is awakened and grappled with the discovery of his actual self towards the end of the mission.
Alison Brie as Claire Wellington: An ambitious journalist who is extremely competitive and vibrant. The attempt to get the story transforms along with her understanding of the people and the pandemonium around her.
Juan Pablo Raba as President Juan Venegas: The ostentatious layered character of Paldonia’s volatile president is portrayed by Raba. He brings humor and gravitas, making Venegas suspicious yet endearing.
Christian Slater as Sebastian Earle: Acquaintance of Mason’s who used to be in Special Forces. He serves with his murky motives in deeper plot conflicts alongside with the job offer.
Alice Eve as Jenny Pettits: Representing the domestic life a struggling lawyer leads in juxtaposition to Mason’s dissatisfaction is his wife Pettits.
Marton Csokas as Colonel Jan Koehorst: Troubling ex- soldier mercenary antagonists with shifting alliances tracking the protagonists through the jungle.
Sebastián Eslava as Jorge Vásquez: Suspected from Venega’s nepotistic circle, caught in revolutionary limbo with mixed loyalties as the president’s niece and political partner.
Direction and Production
In his typical style, Pierre Morel makes sure of including pacy action, dynamic camerawork, and quick cuts in Freelance. Although this film contains more humor than some of his other works, Morel still intensifies the tension during the numerous chases and gunfights. The action choreography is up to par, with several noteworthy moments demonstrating Mason’s military background, including jungle traps, hand-to-hand confrontations, and tactical movements.
Filming took place in Colombia, which serves as the fictional Paldonia. The film makes very good use of the green sceneries and jungles in Colombia, which adds to the authenticity of the curriculm for the story.
The screenplay is Jacob Lentz’s first feature film, and he plays with the defined rules of the genre. It fuses elements of military action with a buddy comedy and media satire. Nevertheless, the plot moves at a lively pace and has some indulging visual spectacles and light-hearted banter, even if it does not offer anything groundbreaking.
Themes and Analysis
- Rediscovery of Purpose
Mason’s character arc showcases a self rediscovery journey. After losing direction in life, he rediscovers motivation when he is needed and gets activated. The film explores themes of identity and change, particularly alongside the experiences a veteran has attempting to adapt to civilian life.
- The Truth Within The Media
Claire’s role brings into focus the ethical controversies within journalism, particularly in conflict areas. At first, she seeks to climb the professional ladder, but later on, she comes to understand much more about the politics and people she is covering. - Leaders’ Misjudgment
President Venegas appears to be a very nuanced character well beyond simple stereotypes. It is his dark side that seems to dominate, but little by little the film shows he is not as simple as that. It brings an additional political narrative of how foreign leaders are too often misjudged by outsiders for simplistic stories told about them. - The Wilderness: Order vs. Chaos
The film, set within the context of a coup alongside the jungle as a literal and symbolic wilderness, illustrates the speed with which order can turn into chaos. The characters are forced to change their perspective, find ways to live, and adapt.
Reception
Critically, the film received mixed to poor reviews upon release. Most critics did praise the chemistry between John Cena and Alison Brie, as well as the film’s pacing and humor. On the other hand, critics lambasted the film for its predictable plot, lack of creativity, and shallow characters.
Regardless of these shortcomings, “Freelance” was well-received by an audience looking for a casual action packed flick. While it did make approximately $9.7 million in worldwide revenues, far less than its $40 million budget, its sales increased through digital and streaming services. The film is of particular interest to fans of the buddy-action sub-genre and to those who relish watching charming protagonists in striking settings.
Conclusion
Freelance (2023) perfectly fits the mold of an action-comedy flick that offers exactly what its audience expects: adventure in the jungle, gun shooting, political humor, and a bit of amusement here and there. It does not seek to make any meaningful or remarkable statements, but instead strives to provide the viewers with delightful entertainment on the level of Universal Studios theme parks in the form of a film that has a little identity, but not enough to try one’s patience.
John Cena seems to be adapting fintastically to the role of a leading action-comedy actor. In this film, he wields incredible strength alongside charm. Alison Brie brought some much needed humor and humanity to this mostly male dominated genre. Not to be overlooked, Juan Pablo Raba gives a convincing portrayal that actually makes the movie’s political subplot more than just a caricature.
Those looking for a lighter dose of satire blended with character-driven humor will find “Freelance” to be entertaining, albeit with hints of subtle provocation. Admittedly, it doesn’t do much for the genre, but it certainly knows its part—and sometimes, that’s all you need.
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