Gran Turismo – Another Solid Underdog Tale

Anyone who has had or has been near a Sony Playstation, knows of Gran Turismo, the racing game/simulator and one the major games that put the original console on the map. As the console has seen countless iterations and innovations over the years with continuing advancements in technology, as has the game franchise as installments become even more realistic. In these days, just about everything is being adapted into a film though that being said, audiences probably would not have guessed a racing game, let alone this one, be the next film adaptation. However, the aptly-titled Gran Turismo found a way in through a true underdog story where the game played a prominent role. With any premise based on an underdog story comes expectations, and this film checks off all those boxes in a predictable way which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but that essentially eliminates the element of suspense. While the material may not be overly original and the film may be a touch too long, clocking in at near the 2.5-hour mark, what makes it all work is the dynamic of Archie Madekwe and David Harbour who nail the mentor-mentee relationship at its heart.

As mentioned, Gran Turismo is based on a true story that hits all the usual underdog story benchmarks and emotional beats in order as it follows Jann Mardenborough (Madekwe), a working-class video gamer with aspirations of becoming a professional racecar driver. Supremely talented at Gran Turismo, digitally logging thousands of laps at the most renowned racetracks around the world, he was encouraged by his family to go to school and pursue a more realistic career. Undeterred, Jann would get a chance to prove to himself and his family that he could become a racecar driver as he earned an opportunity to compete at a racing school against other talented Gran Turismo players for the chance to become a real racecar driver. Putting he, and the other, through the ringer was Jack Salter (Harbour), a mechanic and former driver with a mysterious troubled past. The brainchild of marketing executive Danny Moore (Bloom), the push and pull of he and Salter’s polar opposite philosophies was kind of fun to watch but Moore was merely a plot device to push the other two characters forward. Though the school had its moments, the outcome of the competition was predictable as the film was focused on getting Jann from point A to point B.

That trajectory was of course a familiar one as Jann faced plenty of adversity once faced with the adjustment period of not only learning to drive real cars but also driving real cars against other drivers who all looked down on him and had far more experience than him. The latter was the bigger challenge as he learned what it really meant to the be a racecar driver, for better or worse. However, there was something different around him as his instincts and perspective developed through his years of Gran Turismo experience slowly became the great equalizer. In spite of that familiarity, watching Jann rise through the ranks was fun, however, the more compelling aspect to come out of it was how the dynamic between he and Salter evolved over that same time. Having given up on racing under mysterious circumstances, Jann’s rise seemed to have reinvigorated him and gave him hope, perhaps seeing himself in Jann. Though he didn’t believe it was possible that a video game player could be a real racecar driver, Jann consistently proved him wrong. As the two looked to show that they belonged, their chance was at Le Mans, he and Salter’s biggest test yet. A satisfying culmination of their journeys, serving as a microcosm of where they started and how far they’ve come. While the end result was never in question, it didn’t take away from how it played out.

On a technical level, at the top of mind for most audiences will inevitably be the racing itself. Putting audiences in the driver’s seat at times through strong sound and camerawork, the film features several strong cinematic moments but unfortunately doesn’t tap into that more than it did here. Taking a little too much inspiration from its video game source material, the film offers various flourishes that often makes it feel like watching the game on screen. Using the true story as more of a means to an end, the argument could be made that it looks more like an extended commercial for Gran Turismo than an actual film. However, those flourishes don’t ever become too big of a distraction. One distraction came in the form of the many sweeping CGI crowd shots across the stands at the film’s racetracks. Ultimately, one of the biggest highlights was the eclectic soundtrack which helped set the mood nicely.

The best part of Gran Turismo was the stellar performances of Madekwe and Harbour as Jann and Salter. Madekwe carries the film with his likeability and relatability. Bringing plenty of youthful energy but also plenty of flaws, his evolution over the course of the film, however predictable it may be, works because of his range. For a story about a young man overcoming his circumstances and making a name for himself, it only works if audiences believe in that journey and thankfully, Madekwe makes it easy to do so. Meanwhile, Harbour brings a lovable curmudgeon, scene-stealing energy that works beautifully here and seeing his gruff exterior soften up was compelling to watch alongside he and Madekwe’s growing dynamic as Jann and Salter. Though an unnecessary character in terms of the plot, Bloom was fine.

At the end of the day, Gran Turismo is a successful video game adaptation that rightfully leans more on the true story aspect despite all the pitfalls that come with it.

still courtesy of Sony Pictures

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.