FIFTY SHADES FREED: THIS IS ROMANCE?

It’s been 7 years since the controversial book FIFTY SHADES OF GREY arrived on the pop culture scene. The story of college student Anastasia Steele and young billionaire Christian Grey, their flirtations and their involvement in the BDSM scene took the country by storm. At first many wondered if the movie could make it to film with the sexual fetishes involved. Silly question. If money can be made then of course a movie will follow.

The movie based on the first novel came out to huge success spurred on by the controversy that surrounded it. That was followed by a second film since the book was part of a trilogy and a third later. That third movie, FIFTY SHADES FREED, arrives in disc this week. Not having read the books I have to assume it remains faithful to its source, unsure if that’s a good or bad thing.

If you’ve never seen the other films but plan to, realize there are spoilers in this review. The film opens with the wedding of Ana (Dakota Johnson) and Christian (Jamie Dornan) followed by their immediate departure to Paris for their honeymoon. This is interrupted when a call alerts them that his office building has been broken into, files stolen and a minor fire started. They rush home and in checking CCTV footage discover the person responsible is Jack Hyde (Eric Johnson), Ana’s former boss who was fired for sexual assault on Ana.

Christian has a security team assigned to Ana for her protection as the search for Jack begins. Determined to keep her life as normal as possible Ana continues to work for the publisher she always has, though she’s been promoted to the position Jack once had. A call from her best friend Kate (Eloise Mumford) has them meet for a drink after work even though she promised Christian she’d go straight home. When she does arrive home she’s threatened by Jack who is taken out by the security team.

This sets in motion the pattern of the relationship in the film for the pair as Christian becomes angry at Ana for not following his instructions alternating with their numerous sexual proclivities. This time their adventure into the “red room” where they enjoy their BDSM moments takes a nasty turn and Ana stops him, telling him this time it’s about revenge rather than love. She then tells him that she needs to be able to have time with her friends. To show he loves her Christian then plans a weekend away in Aspen for Ana with himself, Kate, his brother Elliot who is dating Kate and his sister Mia and her boyfriend Jose.

After returning home Ana discovers she is pregnant, something they had discussed and planned for later in life. Christian, rather than be happy about the situation, is enraged and the two fight. Seeking advice he gets drunk and turns to his ex-lover, angering Ana in return. A kidnapping involving Mia by Jack, who’s been released on bail, and an attempt to save her by Ana brings the final portion of the film around.

So is the film any good? Well there are several things that one needs to know going in. If you haven’t seen the first two films and want to see this one, find the others first. Or you can look online and find out what happened in those two before watching. If you fail to do so nothing will make sense to you here, it depends on your knowing the story and can’t be watched as a stand-alone film.

The film is gorgeous to look at. The cinematography by John Schwartzman is stunning. His list of credits is impressive and he makes what could have been a standard movie look amazing. He captures the beauty of the various locations of the film as well as the intimate moments between the characters equally well. Director James Foley, known for a number of hit films, turns in a solid job as well but with the source material to control much of what happens it leaves him little leeway to put his own mark on the movie.

The acting by the leads is solid but the story provides them little more than caricatures to play. The range of emotions bounces from one extreme to the other with little nuance between the two. And in a world of #metoo Hollywood continues to push the standard they’ve set forth providing plenty of bare skin for Johnson who seems fond of doing her nude scenes here and perhaps one posterior shot of Dornan.

Criticisms of the novels the film is based on discussed the poor quality of storytelling and that becomes obvious here. It is by far the biggest problem with the film. Plotlines that should be major issues are wrapped up with quick asides and the lack of depth in the characters is apparent. Were it not for the wealth of Christian odds are the sensuality that some find in the series wouldn’t seem erotic and be more abusive, a controversy that has surrounded the series in both book and film formats.

In the end I found myself not quite entertained but not completely offended either. The movie was just…there. It won’t be remembered like the classic love stories and romantic films of the past. Instead it becomes a novelty, a movie wrapped in salacious controversy that isn’t likely to garner praise or repeat viewings. If you’re a fan you’ll want to see it, if curious you’ll probably check it out and if not the odds are you’ll pass it by.

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