Movie Review – Fifty Shades Freed

If you are going to see Fifty Shades Freed, chances are that you have seen and/or read Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker. The books which were born of Twilight fan fiction, have sold more than 125 million copies worldwide. The first two films have earned almost a billion dollars, but despite its financial success, these books and movies are far from critical acclaim and aren’t far from public scrutiny. With people on both sides of the proverbial fence absolutely destroying the content, and book lovers and critics alike destroying the writing style, it’s a wonder that this series has done so well at all. Alas, what can I say? Sex sells.

The issue for so many being, the “kind” of sex. On one side you have people that hate the normalization of “BDSM lifestyle,” and on the other, you have people that hate this specific portrayal of the “BDSM lifestyle”. There are also the countless allegations of abuse and control exhibited by Grey. Despite all of the think pieces and opinions…people, predominantly women, continue to spend their money on this series. It’s not hard to see why. This series has served as a fantasy for millions.

In my opinion, the books are awful for a number of reasons, including the writing style. I also recognize that people aren’t reading these thinking they’re Shakespeare. While the books are poorly written, the culture they have created – perhaps awakened is be a better word – is truly fascinating. It doesn’t matter how cheesy or cringey the dialogue, these movies (and books) pull big numbers. As a former teenage Twilight lover myself, I remember those days of loving something people mocked, fondly. The audience has no desire to have yet another person shame them for what they love, so I won’t either. Like I mentioned, the people who are seeing this movie are familiar with the material, so let’s talk turkey.

It is in this film that you will get your fairytale ending. Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), the formerly emotionally tormented and romantically stunted self-made billionaire, is officially off the market as Anastasia Grey (Dakota Johnson) is asserting her own dominance in more ways than one, even with old enemies returning to disrupt the life both Greys are building for each other. There are exquisite aerial shots of picture perfect European towns, million dollar shots on yachts, picturesque scenes with Washington state mountains looming behind. The whole feels like an advertisement to inspire one to travel. While I doubt most will care as much about the background, it’s hard not to notice how it feeds into the fantasy.

Now I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t say how non fantastical this film is for me, personally. Christian is incredibly controlling in their personal life, and while being possessive may be attractive to some, it comes off as extremely insecure and obnoxious, and pretty unhealthy. The pacing of the film isn’t bad, even with the amount of car chase scenes, sex, and traveling. But it wasn’t very good either. It is 2 hours of stimulation on high. If you think you won’t like this movie for whatever reason, then don’t watch it because you probably won’t. The acting isn’t great, the realism is simply non existent, and there are some scenes that will make you want to roll your eyes so far back they may just get stuck.

If you do want to see it, do it. There’s more sex than the last two movies, the chemistry between Christian and Ana is more than there, and you will get a sense of finality come time for the credits.