Review: Gran Turismo Roars to Life

“Gran Turismo,” released on Aug. 11, is not only a fun racing movie, but also a surprisingly solid adaptation of one of the best racing series of all time.

Perhaps there’s something in the air, or maybe it’s a sign of the times.

However, against all the odds, this year has been a turning point in video game movie adaptations. From “The Last of Us” to “The Super Mario Movie,” video game and movie fans alike have had a fantastic stretch of films.

While “Gran Turismo” was expected to bring a swift and brutal end to this streak of great adaptations, it managed to truck along to greatness. Indeed, “Gran Turismo” is not only a fun racing movie, but also a surprisingly solid adaptation of one of the best racing series of all time.

The plot is based on a true story, although quite loosely. An avid fan of the video game “Gran Turismo” gets to compete in a tournament to become a real racer, eventually reaching the big leagues.

Upon researching the events on the film covers, most aspects of it are completely false. David Harbour’s character isn’t real, nor is Orlando Bloom’s. Both of these actors are highlights of the film, so it can be argued the film feels somewhat disingenuous.

Furthermore, the exposition and emotional beats are pretty weak.

There is an obligatory sad montage before the final act of the film in which all of the characters are at their lowest. The editing is so bad it feels like a joke. It’s hard to buy subplots such as the protagonist Jann and his romantic interest, and it takes away from an otherwise tight and enjoyable film.

Where “Gran Turismo” really shines is in fast paced, genuinely thrilling racing sequences. With excellent direction, great sound design and a strong sense of tension, each and every race has believable stakes and are an absolute joy to watch. The losses feel painful, but every win also has a catharsis that is hard to achieve in most films.

This alone elevates the film to higher standards than most when it comes to sports films.

The acting is decent, but there are some moments of bad acting as the film progresses. Archie Madekwe as the protagonist, Jann, is a viable performance. David Habour has the standout role, however. He brings a sense of comedic relief but also a strong heart to the film, and his role ties in quite well thematically.

It’s frustrating to see such an inaccurate adaptation coming off the heels of “Oppenheimer,” which adapted many historical moments word for word.

The first act of the film is also very clearly an advertisement, but once the training begins for the first race, the plot picks up and it hardly feels like an issue. Thankfully, the movie incorporates gameplay and mechanics from the video game “Gran Turismo” quite cleverly. It looks great and feels as good as an adaptation can get.

All in all, “Gran Turismo” is more than the sum of its parts. Though the editing and writing can be a bit strange, and the film is way too much of an advertisement starting out, once the film finds its legs, it excels with excellent races and a heartwarming, if not ersatz, emotional core.