{"id":184971,"date":"2025-08-05T08:45:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T08:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/this-john-cena-action-movie-is-a-hit-on-netflix-now-but-is-it-worth-watching\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T08:45:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T08:45:29","slug":"this-john-cena-action-movie-is-a-hit-on-netflix-now-but-is-it-worth-watching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/05\/this-john-cena-action-movie-is-a-hit-on-netflix-now-but-is-it-worth-watching\/","title":{"rendered":"This John Cena Action Movie Is a Hit on Netflix Now \u2014 But Is It Worth Watching?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>There\u2019s a new crop of movies on <a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/media-network\/netflix\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Netflix<\/a> this August, and one of them is an underrated action movie you may never have heard of \u2014 <em>Freelance<\/em>, starring<a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/john-cena\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong> John Cena<\/strong><\/a> and <strong>Alison Brie<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a fun adventure film with surprising twists and great action sequences, don\u2019t miss this wild ride of a movie, which should have been a bigger hit.<\/p>\n<p>Since it\u2019s now one of Netflix\u2019s most popular movies, <a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/watch-with-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch With Us<\/a> is breaking down why you should watch <em>Freelance<\/em> in August 2025.<\/p>\n<h3>It\u2019s an All-Too-Rare Original Action-Adventure Comedy<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Freelance (2023) Official Trailer - John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Christian Slater\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BrqWlOzm2Iw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Jokes, fight sequences and explosions are a winning combination, but these days it\u2019s rare to see an action comedy that\u2019s a totally original story. Marvel and DC dominate the genre, and there\u2019s nothing wrong with that, but it\u2019s nice to see a standalone, original story. Some of our favorite underrated action comedies from the last decade have included <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrity-news\/news\/eva-mendes-praises-ryan-gosling-for-fall-guy-stunts-campaign-page\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Fall Guy<\/em><\/a>, a reboot of an \u201980s TV show, and <em>The Lost City<\/em>, which, despite not being based on existing IP, was basically a new version of <em>Romancing the Stone<\/em>. <em>Freelance<\/em> is neither of those \u2014 it\u2019s an original story that avoids many of the classic tropes.<\/p>\n<p>Cena plays Mason Pettits, an ex\u2013Special Forces operative who\u2019s settled into a boring desk job at a law firm to be there for his wife (<a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/alice-eve\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Alice Eve<\/strong><\/a>) and daughter. But he takes an assignment escorting journalist Claire Wellington (Brie) into the Latin American nation of Paldonia to interview its leader, dictator Juan Venegas (<strong>Juan Pablo Raba<\/strong>). Refreshingly, Claire and Mason aren\u2019t love interests \u2014 Mason is devoted to his family and eager to get back to them. And Venegas, ostensibly a corrupt dictator, isn\u2019t what he seems.<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/you-need-to-watch-these-3-popular-netflix-movies-now-august-4-8-25\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/you-need-to-watch-these-3-popular-netflix-movies-now-august-4-8-25\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">You Need to Watch These 3 Popular Netflix Movies Now (August 4-8)<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tNetflix\u2018s endless parade of action movies is one of the things that the streamer does best. However, it wouldn\u2019t be the No. 1 streamer if action were the only thing it was good at. This week, the Netflix original romance film My Oxford Year is heating up the movie charts as if it were a [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Freelance\u2019 Is an Excellent Use of Cena\u2019s Talents<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Freelance Exclusive Movie Clip - Tell Me You Got That (2023)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/C6xFZN1F6_s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/best-action-movies-on-netflix-right-now\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mission-Impossible-\u2013-Rogue-Nation-Rebecca-Ferguson-and-Tom-Cruise.jpg?w=400&amp;h=225&amp;crop=1&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 770px) calc(100vw - 6em), 200px\" alt=\"Rebecca Ferguson and Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation.'\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" data-fallback-img=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mission-Impossible-\u2013-Rogue-Nation-Rebecca-Ferguson-and-Tom-Cruise.jpg?quality=86&amp;strip=all\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/best-action-movies-on-netflix-right-now\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">9 Must-Watch Action Movies on Netflix Right Now (July 2025)<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tAction fans are in for a treat this month on Netflix. Just a few months after the final Mission: Impossible film hit theaters, the first five movies in the franchise are now streaming on Netflix. That includes our personal favorite, Mission: Impossible \u2013 Rogue Nation. Netflix is also welcoming Mad Max: Fury Road back into [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Apart from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/dwayne-johnson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Dwayne Johnson<\/strong><\/a>, few actors have handled the transition from wrestling to acting as well as Cena, who gets to flex all his muscles \u2014 literal and figurative \u2014 in this movie. Fans of his comedy in movies like <em>Blockers, The Suicide Squad<\/em> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/trainwreck-review-amy-schumers-wickedly-funny-comedy-gets-3-stars-2015147\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Trainwreck<\/em><\/a> will appreciate his performance in <em>Freelance<\/em>, which lets him show off both his stunt and physical comedy skills while also playing the straight man opposite Brie and Raba. Rather than being the punchline, Cena gets to be really freaking cool \u2014 a capable action hero who kicks butt and saves the day, without sacrificing laughs.<\/p>\n<h3>Alison Brie Gets to Shine in \u2018Freelance\u2019<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Freelance - Official Clip (2023) John Cena, Alison Brie\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Us9h6UVQ6rg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/usmagazine.com\/celebrities\/alison-brie\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Alison Brie<\/a> is one of our favorite actresses, and she does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to jokes in this movie. As Claire, she plays a journalist on her last chance at redemption after being caught lying in one of her stories. Her desperation to get the \u201cscoop of a lifetime\u201d pushes her into increasingly absurd situations.<\/p>\n<div id=\"news-block\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form  \">\n<div class=\"newsletter-signup__success\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<h3>Thank You!<\/h3>\n<p>You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>If you enjoyed Brie in shows like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/pictures\/community-cast-where-are-they-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Community<\/em><\/a> and <em>Glow<\/em>, you\u2019ll love seeing her lead a feature film. She\u2019s got the comedic chops to carry the movie, and while she\u2019s not leading the action scenes, she gets a few moments that showcase the stunt work she picked up in <em>Glow<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"link-related article link-related__with-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__thumbnail related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/best-action-movies-on-hulu-right-now\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%;\" class=\"ratio-based-placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Independence-Day-Will-Smith-and-Jeff-Goldblum.jpg?w=400&amp;h=225&amp;crop=1&amp;quality=86&amp;strip=all\" srcset=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 400px, (max-width: 770px) calc(100vw - 6em), 200px\" alt=\"Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum in Independence Day\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" data-fallback-img=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Independence-Day-Will-Smith-and-Jeff-Goldblum.jpg?quality=86&amp;strip=all\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article__content\">\n<h3 class=\"article__title\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"article__title-link related-ab-test\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/best-action-movies-on-hulu-right-now\/\" target=\"\" data-source=\"01\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"related-badge\">Related: <\/span><span class=\"related-title\">10 Great Action Movies on Hulu Right Now (July 2025)<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t\tThere\u2019s a very distinct sci-fi vibe among the great action movies on Hulu in July. But that\u2019s fitting because there\u2019s no action movie better suited for the month than Independence Day, an all-American sci-fi alien invasion flick. Hulu has also added the cult fan-favorite Alita: Battle Angel, a big-budget sci-fi action flick that only attracted [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Freelance<\/em> is the perfect summer action movie \u2014 it\u2019s fast-paced, it\u2019s silly and it leans on the talent of its stars. With that in mind, it\u2019s no surprise it\u2019s doing so well on Netflix this month.<\/p>\n<p>Watch\u00a0<em>Freelance\u00a0<\/em>on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.netflix.com\/watch\/81700514\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/entertainment\/news\/this-john-cena-action-movie-is-a-hit-on-netflix-now-but-is-it-worth-watching\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s a new crop of movies on Netflix this August, and one of them is an underrated action movie you may never have heard of \u2014 Freelance, starring John Cena and Alison Brie. If you\u2019re looking for a fun adventure film with surprising twists and great action sequences, don\u2019t miss this wild ride of a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":184975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-184971","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184971\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}