GoneTrending

You’d think pairing John Cena and Alison Brie into an action comedy would be casting gold, but that is apparently not the case for their new movie Freelance. The film dropped into theaters over the weekend and received a brutal zero percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Freelance centers on Mason Pettis (Cena), a former special forces operative stuck in a desk job and pining for his old action-filled life. When tarnished journalist Claire Wellington (Brie) needs an escort to interview a dictator to revive her career, Cena jumps at the chance to relive his glory days. While that premise sounds great on paper, the execution left much to be desired as critics can’t believe what they saw on screen.

You can see some of the scathing reviews below:

Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter:

Freelance fails to deliver on every front. Worse, it barely seems to try. Though it’s billed as a comedy, the script (by Jacob Lentz) includes few real jokes — its idea of a hilarious running gag is Venegas repeatedly describing things as “petite” because he’s amused that Mason’s last name is Pettits. Though it purports to be an action movie, it makes no attempt to craft a single memorable set piece. A foot chase moves back and forth across the jungle at moderate speed until even the characters seem bored. A climactic shootout ends not with a bang but with a smash cut to a news report, as if the film itself grew restless and changed the channel.

Ross Bonaime, Collider:

From Pierre Morel, director of Taken, From Paris with Love, and the truly atrocious Peppermint, Freelance continues his trend of bland, unremarkable action films. Freelance looks cheaply made, and while this film puts Cena, Brie, and Raba in a chase for their lives across Paldonia, this always looks as though it was filmed on backlots and green screens. The action is never exciting, the jokes never land, and the pacing is all over the place.

Matt Donato, IGN:

This lifeless action rom-ish-com fails every genre in its multi-hyphenate description. Writer Jacob Lentz’s thoughtless feature debut screenplay is a shambles of contradictory dialogue and forgotten plotlines whose thematic fumbles are fit for an ESPN Not Top 10 reel. At no point does anyone in front of or behind the camera seem to understand the movie they’re making. It’s a mess from start to finish, but not the fun type of disaster where bad turns to worse with entertaining discombobulation.

Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com:

“Freelance” is barely a movie. Sure, it’s got a budget ($40 million!), a semblance of a plot, and stars that you’ll recognize, but none of it was developed beyond the bare minimum to get released on VOD and in a few theaters. It is a defiantly lazy work, a project that echoes better films when it’s doing anything. The most impressive thing about Pierre Morel’s film is how it takes two actors as generally likable as John Cena and Alison Brie and makes them such bland avatars for actual people that they fade into the dull background of action-comedy noise this “movie” tries to achieve.

Derek Smith, Slant:

Such awkward, ultimately pointless scenes are par for the course in Freelance, a film that doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. By its conclusion, what we’re left with is a cinematic Frankenstein, whose disparate genre elements have been cobbled together without much consideration or fuss. As such, the film ultimately feels as aimless as it does airless—too blasé for its more serious messaging to land and not nearly funny enough to make you forget it.

Robert Kojder, Flickering Myth:

A head-scratching disaster that doesn’t so much as mix genres and tones but rather puzzlingly cycles through them with no apparent reason or thematic purpose, desperately hoping something starts to click. Just when you think you have the film pinned down as an action-comedy romp about a private security agent protecting an ambitious journalist in the jungle of a hostile fictional country amid a coup, it doesn’t just introduce dramatic political elements but full-on becomes a political drama for what feels like forever. Honestly, the entire film feels never-ending, even at only 105 minutes.

Freelance is now playing in theaters.

Lana Del Rey has become a Zelig-like figure in 2023. She’s everywhere. If she’s not on tour, she’s modeling ponchos in a knitting book. And when she’s not pouring coffee for truck drivers at Waffle House, she’s at the same Halloween party as someone dressed as her.

“Waffle House employee shirt purchased on Ebay: $28.60. Pepsi bottle and fun little straw purchased last minute at CVS: $9. Waffle House ‘Lana’ name tag sticker: $5.59. Attending a halloween party dressed as ‘Lana Del Rey kicking it at Waffle House’ and she’s there in real life: Priceless,” makeup artist Sandy Ganzer wrote on Instagram.

Ganzer shared photos of herself dressed as Lana next to the real LDR and thanked her for being a good sport about the costume. “Thank you for having a sense of humor about it @honeymoon, you’re a Queen,” she wrote.

When asked by the Hollywood Reporter why she worked a shift at a Waffle House Alabama this summer, Del Rey replied, “We were on our third hour, and the servers asked, ‘Do you guys want shirts?’ Hell yeah! We were thrilled.”

The singer was surprised by all the attention she got — and wishes her music was the thing that went viral. “I woke up to, like, 10,000 texts the next morning — some from folks I had not heard from for 10 years. ‘Saw your picture at the Waffle House!’ I was like, ‘Did you hear the new album?’” she said.

Welp, Bruno Mars had a nice little vacation there, but it looks like he’s back to being one of the busiest guys in show business soon. After wrapping up a successful Las Vegas residency and humbly bowing out of Grammy consideration for the 2023 awards, Bruno had been flying relatively under the radar for most of the year. Today, though, rising R&B star Lucky Daye announced that Mars would be joining him on his new single, “That’s You,” alongside frequent production partner D’Mile. He also included a snippet of the song, which drops this Wednesday, November 1 — the perfect start to cuffing season.

It’s a big look for Lucky; not only has Bruno’s presence supercharged singles from the likes of Cardi B and Gucci Mane in past years, but “That’s You” arrives just as Lucky is looking to capitalize on having one of the best R&B albums of 2022 amid an overall resurgence of the genre which saw him collaborating with the red-hot Victoria Monét ahead of the release of her well-received album, Jaguar II. Lucky was also one of the beneficiaries of Silk Sonic foregoing the Grammys, receiving nominations for several awards at this year’s ceremony including Best R&B Album, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song. With Bruno on his side, he may be adding to his collection of hardware soon enough.

“That’s You” Feat. Bruno Mars & D’Mile is out on 11/1.

David Fincher adapted Fight Club from the novel by Chuck Palahniuk over two decades ago, but people are going to keep asking him about it, despite that whole rule of not talking about it.

Over the years, the movie’s, uh, aggressiveness, has caused various responses, specifically amongst the far right. Fincher touched on the topic in a recent interview with The Guardian. “I’m not responsible for how people interpret things…Language evolves. Symbols evolve,” he explained, even though he probably wanted to just talk about Michael Fassbender playing an actual assassin in his latest film The Killer.

He continued after the Guardian said Fight Club has been seemingly claimed by “dissatisfied white men.” Fincher responded, “Okay, fine. It’s one of many touchstones in their lexicography. We didn’t make it for them, but people will see what they’re going to see in a Norman Rockwell painting, or [Picasso’s] Guernicam” he added, seemingly comparing Brad Pitt’s over-the-top six pack to viewing art.

Fincher also says he “can’t help” people who don’t understand the film. “It’s impossible for me to imagine that people don’t understand that Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) is a negative influence. People who can’t understand that, I don’t know how to respond and I don’t know how to help them,” he added. Many people would agree that punching is, indeed, negative.

The Bear actor Jeremy Allen White is making headlines today after being spotted shopping with Rosalía, sparking some new dating rumors online about the two. According to TMZ, the two were photographed at a farmers market in Los Angeles on Sunday, as White carried a large set of flowers while walking alongside her.

In other photos, Rosalía carried a single flower, and White took a smoke break on the sidewalk. The news follows the two being previously spotted out on a movie date just a few days ago, according to the Deux U podcast via Hola!. Those around LA also saw the two getting dinner together later that night.

However, their relationship status is yet to be confirmed.

Back in August, White was spotted kissing actress Ashley Moore as he is divorcing his wife, Addison Timlin. As for Rosalía, she ended her engagement with fellow musician Rauw Alejandro back in July.

“There are thousands of problems that can cause a breakup, but in our case, it was not because of third parties or infidelity,” Alejandro said of their split at the time.

Given that Rosalía and White both ended serious relationships, it very well could’ve led to them connecting over something in common.

Check out the photos here.

Every Monday, Billboard unveils the top 10 songs on the latest Hot 100 chart. The most recent rankings, for the chart dated November 4, are out now, so let’s run down who had this week’s biggest hits.

10. Gunna — “F*kumean”

This week’s top-10 songs are mostly the same as last week but shuffled around some, except for “F*kumean,” the only top-10 song that wasn’t in the region last week. The song, which previously peaked at No. 4, wasn’t far off, though, as it was No. 11 in last week’s ranks.

9. Bad Bunny — “Monaco”

Bad Bunny’s Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana single was the biggest chart debut last week, entering the chart at No. 5. This week, though, it’s nearly out of the top 10.

8. Drake — “IDGAF” Feat. Yeat

“IDGAF” had a big opening week at No. 2 a couple weeks ago, but it’s been gradually working its way down the Hot 100 after falling to No. 4 this week and now No. 8 this frame.

7. Morgan Wallen — “Thinkin’ Bout Me”

This Wallen song and the next one on this list at No. 6 continue their massive climbs over the past couple weeks: “Thinkin’ Bout Me” rose from No. 25 to No. 10 and now to No. 7, a return sparked by Drake’s For All The Dogs songs leaving the top 10.

6. Morgan Wallen — “Last Night”

Similarly, “Last Night,” a former No. 1, rose from No. 19 to No. 9 and now it’s flirting with re-entering the top 5 at No. 6.

5. Luke Combs — “Fast Car”

2023 has been good to Tracy Chapman: She owns both the writer’s and publisher’s share of her song “Fast Car,” so Combs’ successful cover has been lining her pockets for the past few months.

4. Zach Bryan — “I Remember Everything” Feat. Kacey Musgraves

“I Remember Everything” continues to be a multi-genre hit, as it’s No. 1 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and Hot Rock Songs charts for an ninth week and the Hot Country Songs chart for a fifth time.

3. SZA — “Snooze”

“Snooze” hasn’t quite hit No. 1, but it’s been dominating the Hot R&B Songs chart, where it’s No. 1 for the 13th week.

2. Doja Cat — “Paint The Town Red”

“Paint The Town Red” is perhaps Doja Cat’s biggest hit of her career, as it’s her only song to spend more than one week at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Even this week, it’s still thriving at No. 2.

1. Taylor Swift — “Cruel Summer”

1989 (Taylor’s Version) is only a few days old so it hasn’t hit the charts yet, but Swift didn’t need it to claim No. 1 this week thanks to “Cruel Summer.” It looks like we’ll be seeing a lot of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) on the Hot 100 next week, though: On release day, the album’s songs occupied the top 21 spots of the daily Spotify songs chart for the US, and subsequent daily charts have been pretty much the same story.

LeBron James lorded over the Eastern Conference for nearly a decade, making eight straight Finals from 2011 to 2018 with the Heat and Cavaliers.

Two of the teams James regularly beat en route to those Finals appearances in the Eastern Conference Playoffs were the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors. On Monday, Paul George and Norman Powell, now teammates on the Clippers, commiserated over their shared experience of getting taken out by LeBron in the playoffs, swapping stories on George’s Podcast P show of how James was just an insurmountable obstacle at that time. Powell recalled James’ ability to know the Raptors’ playbook as a particularly demoralizing factor in their losses to the Cavs, as James wouldn’t just call out their plays, but every variant, cut, and counter they were about to run.

At one point, Powell remembered LeBron telling one of Toronto’s players what they were supposed to be doing on a play when that player turned to the bench to ask for the play call.

As Powell noted, LeBron’s mind just operated on a “totally different level” as he’d call out the play and the various audibles for the Cavs to best defend each set. On the other end, they both explained how James would just enter a zone where it didn’t matter what defense you run, he was just gonna hit turnaround jumpers on you.

There are a lot of teams over the last decade-plus of the NBA who will always wonder what could’ve been had LeBron’s Heat and Cavs teams or Steph Curry’s Warriors teams not existed, but the further removed they get from those series, the more they’re able to appreciate the level James played at, even if it was at their expense.

With lots of late-night television shows to choose from, there are even more performances from talented musical artists to catch on the lineups. Here’s Uproxx’s roundup of some standout highlights from the past week.

Olivia Rodrigo

A few days ago, Rodrigo dropped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! to deliver a rocking performance of her song “Ballad Of A Homeschooled Girl,” from her recent sophomore record, Guts.

Tyla

Tyla made her US television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform “Water.” Joined by backup dancers, she shined, showed off her vocals — and sparkled in a star-themed silver outfit.

Jorja Smith

Another on The Tonight Show lineup this past week was Jorja Smith, who delivered a mashup of her title track, “Falling Or Flying,” and her other song, “Little Things.” The blend showed off Smith’s both sides between a ballad and a groovy hit.

Tate McRae

Back over at Kimmel, former Uproxx cover star Tate McRae also made an appearance to play her newest song, “Greedy.” McRae used the stage to her advantage, turning the setting into a locker room — likely as a nod to her hockey-themed music video.

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode were on Jimmy Fallon’s show this week, too, where they performed their song “Wagging Tongue.” The track is featured on the band’s new album, Memento Mori.

Arlo Parks

At The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Arlo Parks gave a dreamy and psychedelic rendition of “Weightless,” from her record My Soft Machine.

Momma

Rounding out this week’s list of key performances was Momma, who appeared on The Late Show‘s #LateShowMeMusic series. Filmed remotely, the band performed “Rockstar,” which felt exactly as the title described.

Is Scary Movie having a moment? Maybe it’s the time of year or the ongoing popularity of Scream and Saw, but I’ve heard the 2000 spoof of horror films referenced on multiple podcasts lately, mostly about how good it is. That sounds like weak anecdotal evidence (because it is), but I have proof of Scary Movie‘s cultural resurgence. You can find it on Hailey Bieber‘s Instagram.

The model dressed up (or undressed, really) as Carmen Electra in the opening scene from Scary Movie. In the parody of Scream, Electra plays the Drew Barrymore character who gets slashed to death by Ghostface. Instead of wearing Barrymore’s white sweater, she runs through lawn sprinklers in nothing more than a bra and underwear. There’s also a joke about Electra having sex with Prince. It’s still very funny, possibly in a you-had-to-be-there kind of way. The point is, Bieber nailed the look, which you can see here.

[Bieber] showed off the finished look in a series of portraits taken by Amber Asaly, which you can see here. To complete the costume, which, per stylist Dani Michelle, was custom-made for the model by Victoria’s Secret, Bieber also wore a heart-shaped necklace, a watch, and a pair of black Converse low-top sneakers. Hairstylists Jen Atkin and Amanda Lee were on hand to assist with Bieber’s blowout, while makeup artist Leah Darcy helped her nail Electra’s bombshell glam.

Is it her husband Justin in the Ghostface costume? Now there’s a twist.

(Via Glamour)

In the wake of Matthew Perry’s sudden death by apparent drowning on Oct 28, heartfelt tributes have been rolling in commemorating the actor for his iconic comedy roles—primarily his beloved character of Chandler Bing on the quintessential millennial sitcom “Friends.”

And while his charming, sardonic onscreen persona brought endless amounts of joy for fans, he would tell it wasn’t his biggest accomplishment. In fact, none of his acting roles were.

A year prior to his death, Perry had released his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” where he opened up about his decades long sobriety journey from opioid addiction.

---

While promoting the book on the “Q with Tom Power” podcast, Perry revealed what he actually hoped would be his lasting legacy.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my life but the best thing about me, bar none, is that if an alcoholic or drug addict comes up to me and says, ‘Will you help me?’ I will always say ‘Yes, I know how to do that. I will do that for you, even if I can’t always do it for myself.’ So I do that, whenever I can. In groups, or one on one,” he told Power.

“I would like to be remembered as somebody who lived well, loved well, was a seeker. And [my] paramount thing is that [I] want to help people…” the actor continued, adding that his call to be of service led him to creating the Perry House in Malibu, a sober-living facility for men as well as his play, “The End of Longing,” written as a “personal message” to those struggling with addiction, or those who love someone with addiction.

And though Perry prioritized these contributions over his career, he was also a consummate realist…with a sense of humor.

“When I die, I know people will talk about Friends, Friends, Friends. And I’m glad of that, happy I’ve done some solid work as an actor, as well as given people multiple chances to make fun of my struggles on the world wide web…But when I die, as far as my so-called accomplishments go, it would be nice if Friends were listed far behind the things I did to try to help other people. I know it won’t happen, but it would be nice,” he said.

Following Perry’s passing at the age of 54, this powerful interview began making the rounds on social media once again, with countless fans noting how his words will indeed help those on the road to recovery.

Here is just a small sampling of what folks are saying:

“Rest in peace Matthew Perry. I’m sure your book will help countless other addicts and their families. We will miss your honesty, humbleness, and humor.”

“From an Irish family, full of drinking, arguments, death, I am so desperately sorry that MP has come to an early end. My son is recovering, I have sent this to him. Thank you. RIP Matthew Perry.”

“RIP. Your ability to voice how an addict feels, how their brain works, and what that means for them has helped me as I’ve processed alcoholic family members and friends’ lives. Thank you for bringing light to this.”

“His transparency and harsh honesty here about his addiction will stick with me forever. It’s not easy. RIP brother.”

These are the lessons we all come to learn one way or another. One, that the human heart doesn’t necessarily measure success by fame or fortune, but by how we were able to make an impact for others. And two, that opening up about our struggles just might be the very thing to help us, all of us, heal.

Thank Matthew. For the laughs and for the honesty.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.