John Cena’s 2023 action-comedy Freelance could presently be trending on Netflix, however the film is sadly a stinker, thanks largely to Cena’s lack of chemistry along with his co-star. The movie even sits at a uncommon 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Professional wrestling ready the Peacemaker actor for a profession within the films, and regardless of stretching himself within the occasional comedy or drama, Cena has primarily stayed within the motion lane, enriching his adrenaline-fueled automobiles along with his spectacular physicality, rugged allure, and surprisingly eager comedic timing.
His physicality could also be on show in his currently-trending Netflix streaming providing, however Cena’s allure is little in proof, and his comedic abilities, in addition to these of Alison Brie, are by and huge wasted.
John Cena & Alison Brie’s Lack Of Chemistry Is One Of The Largest Issues With Freelance
Freelance stars Cena as a former particular ops soldier named Mason Pettits, who has given up his lifetime of motion to develop into an unsuccessful lawyer. Bored by his easy, home routine, he indicators on to offer safety for disgraced journalist Claire Wellington as she treks to a fictional South American nation to interview the controversial president.
Wellington is performed by Neighborhood star Alison Brie, the most effective comedic actors round, not that Freelance is aware of what to do along with her, because it pairs her considerably disastrously with Cena.
Freelance seemingly tries the previous screwball comedy routine, the place a seemingly mismatched couple spends the primary a part of the film bickering, however inevitably fall in love. The movie subverts expectations, nonetheless, as Pettits spurns Wellington’s eventual advances, remaining trustworthy to his spouse by friend-zoning his cost.
Cena’s character capturing Brie down amid her painfully awkward seduction try could be the movie’s solely plausible second. In an excellent screwball comedy, one senses the love dawning between the female and male leads, whilst they commerce potshots.
Freelance grossed $10.2 million in its theatrical launch, after having obtained an preliminary 0% Rotten Tomatoes score (it will definitely made it as much as 10%).
There is not a lot heat in any respect beneath the floor of Cena and Brie’s initially hostile relationship. If something, the actors do too good a job of seeming like they hate one another. The shortage of chemistry between the celebrities makes Wellington’s flip from despising Petttis to being romantically concerned about him appear random and bizarre.
One will be forgiven for suspecting Wellington of making an attempt to control her dopey bodyguard, however no, Brie’s character isn’t pretending. The shortage of spark between Cena and Brie takes the air out of Freelance, a film that seemingly needs to be Romancing the Stone, till it instantly doesn’t.
Higher John Cena Motion Films You Ought to Watch As a substitute
Bumblebee
Much better than Freelance is 2018’s Bumblebee, the Transformers spinoff starring Hailee Steinfeld because the titular Autobot’s new proprietor. Cena performs a former military colonel who now works for the mysterious Sector 7, turning into an unwitting confederate of the Decepticons.
Bumblebee sees Cena in villain mode for one of many few occasions in his profession. With a 91% recent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the 2018 launch is arguably the most effective movie in the whole Transformers franchise.
Heads of State
Cena’s just lately launched Heads of State does action-comedy far more successfully than Freelance. The Prime Video film stars Cena as a one-time motion star who has develop into U.S. president, pairing him with Idris Elba because the British prime minister, in a foolish however entertaining little bit of outlandishness that presently sits at 70% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Freelance could be a significantly better film if Cena had as a lot comedic rapport with Brie as he does along with his Heads of State co-star Elba.
The Wall
2017’s The Wall is way extra severe than Heads of State. Cena performs one among a pair of American troopers trapped by an Iraqi sniper in director Doug Liman’s stripped-down battle thriller, which presently sits at 65% on RT.
The Wall could not have accomplished a lot on the field workplace, grossing simply $4.5 million on a funds of $3 million, nevertheless it’s properly price one other look on streaming.
Freelance
- Launch Date
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October 27, 2023
- Runtime
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108 minutes
- Director
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Pierre Morel
- Writers
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Jacob Lentz
- Producers
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Christopher Milburn, Christopher Tuffin, Steve Richards, Renee Tab
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Juan Pablo Raba
President Juan Venegas
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Christian Slater
Sebastian Earle