Freedom isn't Free: 50 Shades Freed

Universal Studios

1/5 Stars

Before I begin this review, I'd like to mention that it has been a tradition for my friend and I to go to these films, sit up in the back and riff them to ourselves (thank you Emily!). So I was already going into 50 Shades Freed with a certain ironic detachment. That being said, I can still say without hyperbole that 50 Shades Freed is a new low for what a major studio will release to theaters.

The film picks up where the last one left off with the marriage of Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) and Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) and then follows them as they tour the world, act like entitled jerks to everyone and have lots and lots (and lots and lots) of sex. Eventually, because things are supposed to happen in movies, Anastasia gets stalked by a jealous ex-boss who may be hiding some dark secrets of his own.

Freed is by far the worst in the series but that's also to the film's advantage. It's so bad that it can almost be looked at with a certain camp sensibility. However, the most reprehensible thing about the series isn't the explicit sex; it's the way the heroes are celebrated for acting like uncaring cretins to everyone around them (Dornan is a particular stand-out with his glassy-eyed stares and complete lack of emotion). They come off as downright psychopathic! Christian does have a moment where he feels guilt for a possible injustice, but it's quickly swept away and everyone goes back to their privileged, narcissistic selves. People can complain about the pornographic sex all they want but for me, the real depravity of this series is its complete lack of humanity. — Forest Taylor

Directed by: James Foley // Written by: Niall Leonard, based on the novel by E.L. James // Starring: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Eric Johnson, Arielle Kebbel, Brant Daugherty, Fay Masterson, Max Martini, Eloise Mumford, Luke Grimes, Rita Ora and Marcia Gay Harden // 105 minutes