F1® The Movie is a new film racing into theaters on June 27th. Directed by Joseph Kosinski & written by Ehren Kruger, the film stars Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, and Javier Bardem. Racing legend Sonny Hayes is coaxed out of retirement to lead a struggling Formula 1 team—and mentor a young hotshot driver—while chasing one more chance at glory.

I can’t say I was all that excited for this film, until recently. Top Gun: Maverick was undoubtedly one of my favorite movies of 2022. I loved pretty much everything else director Joseph Kosinski has made other than Spiderhead. F1 racing has just never been my thing, but I have become more excited for the film up to its release due to how large in scope it looked to be. I can say with full confidence that when the film releases June 27th, this is a film you NEED to see.

Between the story and the 2.5 hour runtime, I did have my concerns going into it and those concerns felt minimal compared to the enthralling experience I had watching the film. Director Joseph Kosinski injects so much energy into this film that made people in my theater peel out of the parking lot after the movie. You can add this to the list of movies they don’t make anymore. Give Kosinski all the money in the world and he will turn it into a spectacle.

While the film isn’t based on any other film property, it’s still clearly inspired by Formula 1 racing based off its title and what happens in the film. Since it uses Formula 1 as way to get the film past the finish line, the story is as basic as it comes. We’ve seen it done many times before, but what makes it a standout and crowd-pleasing film relies on the shoulders of Brad Pitt & the cast that rounds out the supporting characters.

Pitt’s charisma makes you relate to someone who wants to keep doing what they love doing, but is told to stop doing it. It makes his character an easy to connect with. Damson Idris is a star with a performance that will shoot him up to super stardom. The way he mimics Pitt’s character’s former self makes Pitt an easy character that Idris can relate to. Kerry Condon reminds me a lot of Rebecca Ferguson here for some reason, but her chemistry with Pitt is still electrifying. Tobias Menzies proves to have more up his sleeve than you would think, and Javier Bardem manages to have a compelling story for what he’s doing.

Apple has been more careful than ever before with releasing their film in theaters due to their films not doing well in theaters recently. I can’t imagine what this film would have been like if it went straight to streaming. Releasing this in theaters is not only the right call – it’s the only way to experience the film for the first time. It’s been a while since I have seen a film in IMAX from beginning to end. You are completely immersed into each scene with its impeccable sound sign and glorious cinematography.

When it comes to immersing you into each scene, films have gotten smarter about how to do it. The sound design makes you feel the engines. The cinematography makes you feel you’re in the driver’s seat. It’s an experience that makes you feel more immersed than ever before without having to actually get in the driver’s seat. It makes the price of seeing this in theaters worth it. When I think of films that do well financially as of lately, it has to be an event, and this is an event you can’t miss out on.

My issues with the film seem to stand out, but the positives I have with the film heavily outweigh the negatives. One component of the film I can’t seem to understand is why the film didn’t just fully rely on Hans Zimmer’s breathtaking score. With its electric energy, it reminded me a lot of Kosinski’s other film Tron: Legacy. For about half the film, it relies on the soundtrack from artists. The music isn’t bad, but it can be tonally jarring at times.

With a 2.5 hour runtime, the film asks for a lot from its audience. It’s easy to stay invested, but you can still feel the pacing drag whenever it has to slam on the brakes to explain character’s backstories or explain what they are currently feeling. There are countless montages and a few random scenes that could have been cut to help improve the pacing and not make the film feel as long as it does.

Finally, I want to touch on the writing. Kosinski collaborates again with Ehren Kruger who he last worked with on Top Gun: Maverick. You can tell the story here is as safe as it gets, and isn’t as groundbreaking as it could have been. I think some of the characterization given to Pitt’s character later in the film could have been given sooner in the film, which would have helped improve on the story. Some issues between Pitt & Idris’ characters can be repetitive. Cut some of that out to help get to the point. You can also tell where the film is have to work around its product placement, which can be a bit awkward at times.

Overall, F1® The Movie delivers on exactly what you would want from it. The camera work and sound design makes you feel like you’re on the racetrack, while the performances here will give you something to cheer for. The writing & soundtrack can leave some wanting more. With what the film delivers on, those aspects can be a little more forgivable in the long run. I hope this does well in theaters. I highly recommend the film. When I think of a summer blockbuster, this is it.

VERDICT: 4/5 (Great)