Freelance

It’s a mission he didn’t want that will only hold bad memories but Mason Pettits (John Cena) agrees to provide security, at the request of his ex-boss (Christian Slater) for journalist Claire Wellington (Alison Brie). She has secured an interview with dictator President Venegas (Juan Pablo Raba) in his country in South America.

Venegas is a dictator and wallows in that with men at arms and the country under his yoke. But as is the nature of these things (and films) all is not what it seems. The interview party are soon under attack from insurgents and its here that Pettits comes into his own as a highly trained security specialist that has personal issues to deal with.

Even for a story as well trodden as this is uninspired in the extreme. Cliché piles into cliché as director Pierre Morel and writer Jacob Lentz trot through the checklist.

There’s precious little here to hold any interest for a standard ninety minutes let alone its best part of two hours running time.
If there’s something positive to say its that the three main protagonists appear to be having a good time. Though at times they appear to be persevering rather than acting. That’s a commendable and professional attitude that will hold them in good stead.

Taken as an action film it barely holds together although there are a lot of bangs, bombs, and shootings as well as chasing through the jungle. There’s dastardly plotting and there’s a smidgen of human interest, which is broadcast from the off which any viewer will know will surface later on.

Credit where its due it’s a fairly good-looking film and looks to have had a solid budget. Still it doesn’t stop the feeling that this is by the numbers and lazy. But as is the nature of this business, time will tell if it has been wisely allocated and then spent.

Freelance will be streaming on digital platforms from 1 January 2024.