Is F1 The Movie Worth Seeing? The Reviews Are In
There are high hopes for F1 The Movie, which is in cinemas now. Starring Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem and Damson Idris, the film has received the full backing of Formula One and its governing body Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
Racing drivers from all Formula One ten teams, including Lewis Hamilton (who's also listed as one of the film's producers), George Russell, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez, as well as their bosses will appear as themselves on the big screen, giving it a rare and official seal of approval.
Brad Pitt and Damson Idris in F1 The Movie ©Warner Bros
F1 The Movie stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a 1990s Formula One driver – dubbed 'the greatest that never was' – who had to give up his dream job after a severe crash nearly ended his career. 30 years on, he now works as a taxi driver and racer for hire. But his opportunity to come out of retirement comes when his former teammate and friend Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), now an owner of a struggling Formula One team, persuades him to come back to Formula One for one last shot to save the team and mentor rookie prodigy Joshua 'Noah' Pearce (Damson Idris) for the Apex Grand Prix team.
Cinemagoers are loving F1 The Movie. It has a very impressive 98% popcornmeter, with 86% tomatometer, on Rotten Tomatoes and a high score of 7.9 – of 4.9k viewers – on IMDB.
F1 The Movie has divided critics, with some loving it while others are feeling more of a meh vibe. But most are in agreement over the high-octane spectacular visuals and Brad Pitt's acting. Entertainment Weekly said, 'F1 has no peer in its dedication to speed, movement and visceral excitement,' while Rolling Stone wrote, 'This is what blockbusters used to look like. Come for the most impressive, lustrous car that a gajillion-dollar budget can buy. The reason to stay, however, is the driver.'
USA Today added, 'Watching Pitt burn this much rubber, and with macho panache, puts F1 in the winners' circle,' and The Hollywood Reporter called it 'a deft addition to a sturdy lineage of motorsport flicks'.
Others called it 'predictable', 'formulaic', very 'macho' and said it was 'too long'. The Times said, 'There's an unashamedly 'enthusiastic' cross-promotional quality to the film, like a two-and-a-half-hour Formula One commercial that never quite gels with its hoary central story.' Variety added that the adrenaline rush wears off. 'It's a high that may leave you feeling a bit empty afterwards.'
If you're a fan of racing or Brad Pitt, F1 The Movie is surely a must-watch for you this summer. You'll be in for a great time. But if you're in need of convincing, maybe this trailer can help you decide…
F1 The Movie is in cinemas now
Shereen Low is a senior news and entertainment writer for Grazia UK, who has covered some of the biggest showbiz news from the past decade.
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