John Cena's Exciting Action Comedy Fails to Impress on Rotten Tomatoes

Summary

Freelance, which stars John Cena and Alison Brie, has debuted to a 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes with 15 reviews. This score could change as more reviews are released.

Cena's consecutive film, "Freelance," once again receives critical backlash following "Vacation Friends 2."

Critics heavily criticize "Freelance," pointing out its lack of comedy, subpar action sequences, and absence of chemistry among the main actors.

Freelance, the action comedy featuring John Cena, has received a disappointing 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by Pierre Morel (known for Taken), this film revolves around Cena's character, an ex-special forces soldier who must protect a journalist portrayed by Alison Brie. The story takes a dramatic turn when a violent coup erupts during the journalist's interview with a South American dictator. Alongside Cena and Brie, the cast boasts talented actors such as Christian Slater, Alice Eve, Marton Csokas, and Juan Pablo Raba.

Why Freelance's Reviews Are So Bad

Following the release of Freelance in theaters, online reviews for the film have surfaced, and they are overwhelmingly negative. Presently, the movie has obtained an unusual score of 0% on Rotten Tomatoes from 15 reviews. While more reviews may alter Freelance's Rotten Tomatoes score, it currently shares the distinction of being John Cena's second film to earn a 0% rating, along with 2010's Fred: The Movie.

The initial preview for Freelance premiered a few months back, offering a playful and action-filled adventure with a touch of silliness. While action comedies typically receive mixed reviews, both Cena and Brie have demonstrated their comedic talents and charm. This suggests that there could be some enjoyable moments within the film. However, it seems that something has gone awry, as Freelance becomes Cena's second critically disliked project following the poorly received Vacation Friends 2.

Angie Han's review for THR describes Freelance as a complete disappointment that lacks effort. She points out that the film fails to deliver both in terms of humor and action, which is a major drawback for an action comedy. Derek Smith, writing for Slant, agrees with Han's assessment and emphasizes the lack of chemistry between the three main actors. He also criticizes the unfunny humor in the film, ultimately labeling it as a cinematic Frankenstein. Ross Bonaime, in his review for Collider, gives the film a "D" grade and specifically calls out Jacob Lentz's confusing screenplay that unnecessarily complicates the story without providing any genuine jokes. Nick Rogers, writing for the Midwest Film Journal, goes even further with his scathing review, describing Freelance as a failed and artificial film that feels like a fictional movie within a movie. While some movies that receive negative reviews can still find an audience, the outlook for Cena's latest film seems bleak.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes