‘Tis the season for popcorn pictures and the slick but shallow sports drama “F1 the Movie” (Warner Bros.) fits the bill. While acceptable for grown-ups, however, this fictional glimpse into the world of Formula One is not apt fare for impressionable youngsters.
Tearing down the tarmac comes Brad Pitt as troubled driver Sonny Hayes. A once promising racer, Sonny left the Grands Prix circuit behind after a traumatic accident in the 1990s — and has led a sketchy existence ever since.
Sonny gets a renewed shot at proving himself, though, when his former teammate and close friend Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) invites him back into competition. Now the owner of a failing team, Ruben hopes adding Sonny to his squad will improve their prospects.
Once Sonny accepts Ruben’s offer, he finds himself in an uneasy partnership with Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), a talented yet callow rookie. Instead of collaborating, this brash duo butt heads and trade insults.
Luckily for both, the outfit’s pioneering female technical designer, Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), eventually serves as peacemaker between them. She also takes on the role of Sonny’s love interest.
Director Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) brings visual flair to the racing scenes. And Ehren Kruger’s script promotes teamwork, in part by showing viewers how a series of egotistical detours lead to dead ends.
But Sonny’s machismo ultimately veers into recklessness while both the screenplay’s treatment of sexuality and its inclusion of salty dialogue suggest parents should give kids the red light.
The film contains offscreen but romanticized premarital sexual activity, a few uses each of profanity and crass language, about a half-dozen milder oaths, at least one rough term, frequent crude talk and an obscene gesture. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
