By Ica Hontiveros-Cheng
I had low expectations for Gran Turismo, so much so that I was planning on skipping the premiere altogether, since I knew it was going to be another back-to-back screening, working the night shift, and then straight to another screening for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. So, essentially I would be going into seeing Turtles with little to no sleep at all.
I mean, Gran Turismo received low critic scores, and I’m not really a fan of the ‘Based On a True Story’ tagline. It’s just too cheesy for me.
But I’m really glad that I stuck it out and decided to see the film because Gran Turismo was such an enjoyable watch in the cinema, it was more than that actually, there were parts that got very emotional and for me, that’s always a plus in movies.
I was so impressed! Everybody loves a Cinderella story, more so when it is based on a real one. And this is the elevator pitch for the film, this is what draws you in but what makes you stay is how inspirational the story is. I love how it highlights that any kid who has a dream just needs a shot, and they can reach their do the impossible and reach their dreams. That’s all that they need, someone to believe in them, someone to take a chance on them.
The film is a must-watch for gamers and car-enthusiasts but can also be appreciated by anyone looking for a good story and looking to be entertained. Because, wow we were definitely entertained, we were cheering for gamer turned pro-racer Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) as if we were on the sidelines of the breath-taking races. We were cheering and we were clapping, totally engaged and wishing him the best as he carved his own spot in the tremendously vicious and competitive world of motorsports. All that spontaneous cheering reminded me of how the crowd was during a fan screening of the Slam Dunk movie.
Can I say how much I loved seeing the different racing stadiums around the world? And the shots used during those scenes? We were all together just blown away! I never thought that racing stadiums can be so breathtaking!
David Harbour seems to have the mentor/father figure role in the bag, you know since his role as Hopper in Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ – in Gran Turismo, he plays Jack Salter, the reluctant mentor for the GT Academy. The bond between Harbour’s Salter and Madekwe’s Mardenborough is what ties the film together and draws out the emotional tugs at your heart.
Also, another Netflix alum, I was also so happy to see Darren Barnett as part of the cast, I’ve been a fan of his ever since seeing him in ‘Never Have I Ever’ on Netflix- and yes, I have always been Team Paxton, those big baby brown eyes just gets me every time. Okay, gooooing back to Gran Turismo, before I was distracted by Darren’s baby browns.
Also prepare some tissues, for some drama care of Djimon Hounsou. Also it was nice to see Orlando Bloom on the big screen again, this time, he plays an ambitious and daring Nissan marketing exec, Danny Moore, and is the one who births the idea of gathering the top Gran Turismo players and training them to become real professional drivers.
Lesson learned, never judge a film by early reviews from critics, audience score also plays a factor. And don’t judge a film based on the tagline in the title, no matter how cheesy you might find it. As the film taught us, you gotta give it a shot.