John Cena’s 2023 action-comedyFreelancemay currently be trending on Netflix,but the movie is unfortunately a stinker, thanks in large part to Cena’s lack of chemistry with his co-star.The film even sits at a rare 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Pro wrestling prepared thePeacemakeractorfor a career in the movies, and despite stretching himself in the occasional comedy or drama,Cena has mainly stayed in the action lane, enriching his adrenaline-fueled vehicles with his impressive physicality, rugged charm, and surprisingly keen comedic timing.
His physicality may be on display in his currently-trending Netflix streaming offering, but Cena’s charm is little in evidence, and his comedic skills, as well as those of Alison Brie, are by and large wasted.
John Cena & Alison Brie’s Lack Of Chemistry Is One Of The Biggest Problems With Freelance
Freelancestars Cena as a former special ops soldier named Mason Pettits, who has given up his life of action to become an unsuccessful lawyer. Bored by his simple, domestic routine, he signs on to provide security for disgraced journalist Claire Wellington as she treks to a fictional South American country to interview the controversial president.
Wellington is played byCommunitystar Alison Brie, one of the best comedic actors around,not thatFreelanceknows what to do with her, as it pairs her somewhat disastrously with Cena.
Freelanceseemingly tries the old screwball comedy routine, where a seemingly mismatched couple spends the first part of the movie bickering, but inevitably fall in love. The film subverts expectations, however, as Pettits spurns Wellington’s eventual advances, remaining faithful to his wife by friend-zoning his charge.
Cena’s character shooting Brie down amid her painfully awkward seduction attempt may be the film’s only believable moment. In a good screwball comedy, one senses the affection dawning between the male and female leads, even as they trade potshots.
Freelancegrossed $10.2 million in its theatrical release, after having received an initial 0% Rotten Tomatoes rating (it eventually made it up to 10%).
There isn’t much warmth at all beneath the surface of Cena and Brie’s initially hostile relationship. If anything, the actors do too good a job of seeming like they hate each other. The lack of chemistry between the stars makes Wellington’s turn from despising Petttis to being romantically interested in him seem random and weird.
One can be forgiven for suspecting Wellington of trying to manipulate her dopey bodyguard, but no, Brie’s character isn’t pretending. The lack of spark between Cena and Brie takes the air out ofFreelance,a movie that seemingly wants to beRomancing the Stone, until it suddenly doesn’t.
Better John Cena Action Movies You Should Watch Instead
Bumblebee
Far better thanFreelanceis 2018’sBumblebee, theTransformersspinoff starring Hailee Steinfeld as the titular Autobot’s new owner. Cena plays a former army colonel who now works for the mysterious Sector 7, becoming an unwitting accomplice of the Decepticons.
Bumblebeesees Cena in villain mode for one of the few times in his career. With a 91% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, the 2018 release is arguably the best film in the entireTransformersfranchise.
Heads of State
Cena’s recently releasedHeads of Statedoes action-comedymuch more effectively thanFreelance. The Prime Video movie stars Cena as a one-time action star who has become U.S. president, pairing him with Idris Elba as the British prime minister,in a silly but entertaining bit of outlandishness that currently sits at 70% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Freelancewould be a much better movie if Cena had as much comedic rapport with Brie as he does with hisHeads of Stateco-star Elba.
The Wall
2017’sThe Wallis far more serious thanHeads of State. Cena plays one of a pair of American soldiers trapped by an Iraqi sniper in director Doug Liman’s stripped-down war thriller, which currently sits at 65% on RT.
The Wallmay not have done much at the box office, grossing just $4.5 million on a budget of $3 million, but it’s well worth another look on streaming.
Freelance
Cast
Freelance follows an ex-special forces operative tasked with protecting a journalist during her interview with a dictator. The situation takes a dire turn when a military coup erupts, forcing them to flee into the jungle to survive.
