Critics Are Calling F1 ‘A Hell Of A Ride,’ But They Agree There’s One Thing Keeping It From The Finish Line

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As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but feel the excitement building up as Brad Pitt’s highly anticipated F1 film is about to hit the silver screen. After years of anticipation, its release date is finally set for June 27, 2025. Critics have already had an early sneak peek at this Formula One-inspired sports drama, and while the initial reactions suggest it’s going to be quite a thrilling ride, there seems to be a consensus that it leans heavily on familiar sports movie tropes. But does that detract from the overall experience? Let’s find out together when we finally get to see it!

Under the guidance of director Joseph Kosinski, who brought us “Top Gun: Maverick”, we’re geared up for a cinematic adventure that promises to be breathtaking in 4DX or IMAX. The movie features high-octane race scenes, with Brad Pitt and Damson Idris taking the driver’s seat. As per Ross Bonaime of Collider, it lives up to the hype and offers one of the top racing movies ever made, even though it doesn’t shy away from familiar tropes. He awards it 8 out of 10 points, stating in his review:

This movie is perfect for the summer – it’s action-packed, filled with thrills, and just oozes high production value. It’s so engaging that even tiny scenes will leave you cheering out loud and slapping hands with the person sitting next to you in a crowded cinema. F1 is an exhilarating ride and one of the most electrifying films this summer. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you grateful for filmmakers like Kosinski who continue to create such exciting movies today.

According to ScreenRant’s Mae Abdulbaki, who awarded the film 8 out of 10, the movie can be described as a lengthy advertisement with branding all over, featuring an utterly unoriginal plot. Despite this, Abdulbaki found themselves captivated by every moment of it.

It’s clear that F1 is a theater film. Watching it with an engaged audience makes the experience even more thrilling, as you’ll laugh, gasp, and cheer in sync. Whether you’re a fan of racing or not, F1 manages to keep your attention. Despite being a promotional movie for Formula One, it’s at least a highly enjoyable film.

Clint Gage from IGN acknowledges that F1 may not be recognized for its uniqueness, but he explains that the formula for sports movies has remained consistent over time because it’s challenging to go wrong with it. Although the film uses familiar strategies, Gage suggests that the enjoyment felt during production is palpable and contagious. He awards it a “Good” 7 out of 10 rating.

In “Top Gun: Maverick,” director Joseph Kosinski gathers an elite team both on screen and off for the film “F1.” This cinematic masterpiece is visually stunning and pulse-pounding, with exceptional editing enhancing Brad Pitt’s captivating presence that seems designed for IMAX screens. However, it adheres too rigidly to the sports-movie formula, which prevents it from reaching true greatness due to some superfluous elements and a lengthy runtime of over two hours. Nevertheless, it offers an exhilarating journey.

According to Liz Shannon Miller from Consequence, the film earns a B+ for effectively portraying the thrill and peril associated with driving. The film (particularly the races) is consistently engaging, Miller notes, but the 2.5-hour length can be noticeable at times. In summary, Miller’s critique suggests that while the movie is exciting, its extended runtime may become somewhat apparent.

From a narrative perspective, the plot is rich enough to prevent F1 from appearing as merely an extended advertisement for two hours and thirty-five minutes. However, I must admit that it leans heavily on familiar sports movie themes, such as Sonny’s troubled past and the inevitable rivalry between him and the promising newcomer Joshua ( skillfully portrayed by Damson Idris, who effectively fleshes out his character despite limited development). You’ll likely spot other common tropes from a distance, giving the impression that there might be one additional dramatic twist more than necessary.

According to Witney Seibold’s review on SlashFilm, “F1” falls short in many aspects, earning a score of 4.5 out of 10. Similar to Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick,” Brad Pitt is portrayed as a veteran heartthrob attempting to demonstrate his enduring talent, Seibold notes. While the car chase scenes are enjoyable, Seibold argues that they alone do not make up for the film’s shortcomings.

If F1 had been a compact 90-minute race, some of its noticeable storyline imperfections might be overlooked or excused (except for the mishandling of Condon’s character). However, with an extended runtime of 156 minutes, viewers will have plenty of time to contemplate the film’s numerous flaws. The racing is thrilling – extremely so – and Pitt undeniably embodies star quality, but honestly, I prefer not to live through his midlife crisis; I can manage my own, thanks.

This version maintains the original’s meaning while making it more readable for a general audience and using less technical terms.

It appears that many reviewers concur that the film F1 could’ve been a tad shorter and lacks some novelty, but this doesn’t seem to be an issue for most viewers. After all, sports movie conventions are widely appreciated because they result in entertaining films. Judging by Brad Pitt and Joseph Kosinski’s efforts, it seems they have managed to produce one such film. The release of F1 is set for this coming Friday, June 27th.

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2025-06-17 22:38