‘F1 The Movie’– Formulaic film, fun in 4DX

The trappings of the sports movies are the whole reason they’re enjoyable. We love to see an underdog beating the odds, inspiring each of us to be better than anyone thought we could be, even ourselves. These stories are admittedly touching, and I’m not so jaded as to find no joy in them. That said, F1 The Movie is a film that’s painfully cliché. If not for its stunning visuals and cinematography, it would be unwatchable.

The characters you follow are more archetypes than people. Damson Idris plays the young driver whose great talent is matched only by his arrogance, and Brad Pitt plays the older and wiser Sonny Hayes, who is past his prime with just enough fuel in his tank for one last blaze of glory.

How you come to know this information is through the explicitly stated descriptions by Javier Bardem’s Ruben Cervantes. F1 The Movie requires its audience to be patently familiar with how sports movies work, as if it is the first of its kind. It feels forced, and that feeling persists throughout the film. As the rivalry between the leads intensifies, their jabs at one another border on parody.

It would be one thing if the film attempted to do something innovative with its story to make up for its condescending tone, but instead, the film opts to give you beats as predictable as the turns on a Nascar track. Formula 1 may be the name of the sport, but the film has no business being this formulaic.

Where F1 The Movie shines is in its depiction of jaw-dropping and thrilling racing sequences that put the viewer right in the driver’s seat. It’s nothing short of mesmerising and offers up greater tension than most horror movies, as the audience rockets through treacherous tracks that twist and turn violently. It’s a transcendent experience, especially in 4DX, immersing you in technical film-making that far exceeds the story and characters it’s connected to.

F1 The Movie is a frustrating film to review. There’s so much weighing it down. Brad Pitt sleepwalks through the role, particularly in a contrived romantic subplot that seems to irritate him more and more as it lumbers toward its obligatory climax. Damson Idris gives a performance with visible effort, but even he can’t elevate a script this lazy.

The film is saved by its incredible visuals that make it worth seeing on the big screen, but if you’re looking for a compelling plot to ponder, it’s best to skip it.

Rating: Half Price

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.