Netflix regularly offers a second chance to movies that struggled to find a large audience in theatres, and that’s certainly the case with the 2023 action-comedy“Freelance.”
This $40 million blockbuster stars John Cena and Alison Brie, and was a box office misfire when it landed in theatres almost two years ago. It only managed to claw back around a quarter of its sizeable budget and seemed destined to be forgotten in a sea of similar summer movies.
That was until it was added to Netflix U.S. as part of the service’s first wave of new additions for August. Just a few days later, “Freelance” has found its way into the platform’s top 10 most-watched list. It currently ranks at number four, and if it continues to rise up the charts at this speed, it might even have a Netflix No. 1 title in its future. However, it'll have to dethrone the juggernaut "KPop Demon Hunters" to claim the crown.
But here’s the wrinkle: “Freelance” might have deserved its unwanted status as a financial flop. Or at least, it does if you listen to critics, who were far from impressed with the formulaic action-comedy. Viewers tell a different story, praising it for offering plenty of "fun” and “entertainment.”
Curious to know more? Here’s the full scoop on “Freelance,” and why viewers and critics disagree on this John Cena-fronted slice of action-packed summer escapism. And I'll answer the most important question of all: Should you add "Freelance" to your Netflix watchlist this week?
What is ‘Freelance’ about?
Mason Pettits (John Cena) is a former special forces operative, now working a dead-end job and struggling to co-parent his young daughter. Needing an injection of excitement in his mundane day-to-day, he takes a job working private security for a disgraced journalist (Alison Brie).
The mission is to provide protection for the reporter as she travels to the (fictional) South American country of Paldonia to interview the country’s ruthless dictator (Juan Pablo Raba). But soon after arriving in the region, a military coup breaks out and Mason must spring into action.
Now on the run in the jungle, this unlikely trio is forced to work together to survive with enemy forces closing in, but their toughest obstacle may be finding a way to tolerate each other.
‘Freelance’ reviews — critics and viewers disagree
It’s not especially uncommon for critics and viewers to disagree, but “Freelance” represents one of the largest discrepancies in reception between the two camps I’ve seen in ages.
Starting with the professional critics, “Freelance” holds a miserable 10% score on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s critics' summary is particularly cutting: “Much like a real-life ‘Freelance’ gig, this sodden action comedy offers no benefits.” Ouch!
There’s an oppressive nothingness to “Freelance.” No romance. No comedy. No action,” said Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com, awarding the movie a mere half a star (out of four). While Cath Clarke of the Guardian was equally unimpressed, giving the movie only a single star.
“Brie and Cena look lifeless and blank-faced; they’ve got no chemistry, and the objectionable dynamics of him manfully rescuing her shrieking from the clutches of the bad guys on repeat feel like a satire of the genre – which this isn’t,” said Clarke in their very negative review.
However, it seems like the majority of viewers didn’t share these pessimistic takes on “Freelance.” Looking again at Rotten Tomatoes, the movie’s audience score is a relatively respectable 78%. While viewers on average tend to be kinder than critics, this gap is still noticeably large, and it suggests that viewers were able to enjoy the action-packed ride.
Recent user reviews on RT call the movie “cheesy, but a lot of fun” and “full of awesome ongoing action.” John Cena is singled out for praise quite a lot, with his chemistry with Alison Brie also noted as a highlight.
Of course, not every viewer was so positive; one review notes that “this is one of the few times I agree with the critics' score over the audience.”
Should you stream ‘Freelance’ on Netflix?
Perhaps my biggest issue with “Freelance” is that it feels like a cheap copy of “The Lost City,” a tonally and visually similar action-comedy released 12 months earlier. So, “Freelance” is basically a worse version of a blockbuster movie I’d already seen. Which isn't a great poster quote.
Now, if you’re just looking for a light-and-breezy summer romp, you might get some enjoyment from “Freelance.” Even if the subject matter, which includes a cruel dictator and a military coup, seems serious on the surface, “Freelance’s” tone is always kept light.
It’s a movie where the jokes flow freely, and the main characters never feel in any true danger.
There are undoubtedly flaws here. The story is derivative, the characters are thinly fleshed out and the action sequences are extremely pedestrian. It’s certainly not a movie I’d have advised you to rush out to your nearest multiplex to see. However, its arrival on Netflix lowers the barrier to entry considerably. Making a recommendation a little more palatable.
It’s by no means a flick that deserves to be at the top of your Netflix watchlist, and if you do opt to skip it, trust me, you’re not missing out on a masterpiece. But if you’re looking for a simple summer watch, it’ll do in a pinch. Just be sure to keep your expectations firmly in check.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for some new to Netflix options that don’t come with a string of caveats, here are the best new additions to the streaming service library I’m adding to my watchlist this month, including one of the most iconic summer blockbusters in Hollywood history.
Watch "Freelance" on Netflix now
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