Free Fire: A Hilariously Imperfect Action Comedy
An ingenious concept meets a cast of vibrant characters in this witty and uncompromising comedic action film.
The premise is simple: a group of Irish militants meets with shady arms dealers to purchase a large shipment of weapons. The deal goes relatively smoothly, but as they’re leaving, it turns out that two guys from opposing sides had a run-in at a nightclub the night before. Words are exchanged, and the argument escalates into a full-blown shootout. Now, the participants are scattered, seeking cover, unsure of what to do. No one wants to die, but business certainly isn’t getting done.
British director Ben Wheatley has been working in film for over a decade, but he only truly grabbed attention last year with “High-Rise,” an ambitious thriller about how seemingly decent people devolve into animals in a confined space under extreme circumstances. The film gained international recognition largely due to its cast of international stars (Tom Hiddleston, Luke Evans, Jeremy Irons), but it received mixed reviews. Following that, Wheatley secured the support of even more international stars (and Martin Scorsese)… and made another ambitious thriller about how seemingly decent people devolve into animals in a confined space under extreme circumstances.
Fun Fact: The role that ultimately went to Sharlto Copley was originally intended for Luke Evans, but he dropped out of the project to film “Beauty and the Beast.”
Humor as the Saving Grace
The main and crucial difference between “Free Fire” and “High-Rise” is that Wheatley has generously infused his new film with humor. The characters are all larger than life, and Wheatley extracts jokes from a variety of sources. The two brawling guys continue to argue until the very end; the cowardly gangster-wannabe (Sharlto Copley) is hilariously pathetic in his desperate attempts to prove he’s the toughest guy around; the imposing “fixer” (Armie Hammer) maintains a stone-cold demeanor and phlegmatically quips under fire; the only female negotiator tries to escape, using her gender as a shield. Looking at the film as a whole, it’s a brilliant premise brimming with potential. Wheatley isn’t shy about exploiting it, but unfortunately, he makes some questionable decisions along the way.
Pacing and Clarity Issues
One such decision is that almost every character receives a non-fatal but mobility-restricting wound within the first few minutes of the shootout. By the end, the characters are literally crawling after each other (and that’s not an exaggeration!). No matter how you slice it, there isn’t much dynamism or excitement in a “turtle race.” Secondly, Wheatley fails to provide the viewer with a clear picture of what’s happening. It’s generally unclear where anyone is. The characters move from one cover to another, sometimes “crawling” together, sometimes scattering, but it’s rarely clear where their enemies are. It’s said that, in preparation for filming, Wheatley and his team modeled all the characters’ movements in “Minecraft,” but this carefully planned logic isn’t visible on screen – just chaotic movements that seem aimless.
Final Verdict
“Free Fire” could also be criticized for its somewhat predictable ending, but fortunately, this isn’t a film where the final twist is crucial. It’s a cinematic thrill ride, not so different in its essence from something like “Transformers” or “Fast & Furious” – but for a slightly different, more niche audience that loves dark humor, vibrant characters, and brutal violence “à la Tarantino.” There’s a fair amount of content made for such people, but rarely is it done with such quality and satisfying flair as Wheatley delivers.