F1 The Movie is essentially a two-and-a-half-hour commercial with a surprisingly compelling story. Brands are littered throughout the film, and the тιтle itself is pulled from Formula One racing. It’s not original at all, and yet I was riveted by every minute of the film. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger, F1 The Movie is engaging and entertaining, building momentum and laying the groundwork for character payoffs. It could’ve easily phoned it in, as so many brand-related movies are wont to do, but Kosinski’s film makes us feel something.

At its heart, the movie is about the triumphant return of a has-been who learns a thing or two about working with a team and rekindles his love of racing. The story follows race car driver Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), who went from being one of the best in the 90s to driving a van and driving in one-off races. He avoids deals, but when his old friend and fellow former race car driver Ruben (Javier Bardem), now the head of APXGP, recruits him to win one race and bring him out of debt, Sonny finds himself returning to the world of F1.

F1 Is A Classic & Entertaining Underdog Movie

You’ll never guess from the trailers alone, but F1 is quite entertaining. It has an irresistible charisma, there are actual stakes, and the racing scenes are quite suspenseful, intense, and terrifically executed. I was surprised by its comedic moments; they were well-timed and added to the character dynamics. Even with all its technical terms and the constant barrage of corporate-sponsored signs, the film is actually grounded, focused on the rivalry between Sonny and Ruben’s rookie driver, Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), which has layers that are peeled back throughout the film, and the teamwork it takes to win.

The characters are easy to root for, the relationship buildup is well-paced and occasionally complex, and the racing itself is heart-pounding. F1 has all the elements of a classic underdog movie, but also pits the old against the new in a way that is fresh and intense. There’s not a moment you don’t want Sonny and Joshua — whom Sonny nicknames JP, much to the latter’s annoyance — to suck it up and start working together as a team, but it’s a jog and not a sprint to get there. By the time they do, it’s a monumental moment that is earned.

F1 Has A Fantastic Ensemble Cast

One of the best things about the film is the fact that the main characters are fleshed out enough for the story to work — with characters like Joshua and Kate, I wanted to know even more about them than the story gives us, which is a part of what makes a good character. The F1 team that works alongside Ruben and the drivers is excellent and made up of a great cast that all pull their weight. Every failure or win truly feels like a collective team effort, and the pitch-perfect ensemble truly sells every moment.

Brad Pitt still has that onscreen charm that convinces us to believe in his character’s underdog story, the ᴀsshole with an eye for strategy whose past life as a race car driver (and his feelings about it) stands in the way of his connection with Joshua and other people. Sonny and Joshua have a good push-pull dynamic that keeps the story going; it never feels prolonged or goes overboard. Damson Idris is also excellent as Joshua, elevating the material with well-timed looks and an ᴀssuredness that rivals Sonny’s. They’re two sides of the same coin, while also offering a nice contrast that underscores their roles at different stages.

Kerry Condon as Kate is perhaps one of the more captivating characters in the movie. This is partially due to the writing and mostly due to Condon’s portrayal. She has a compelling onscreen presence and she and Pitt have good chemistry that makes their characters’ relationship very believable. In many ways, she is the heart of the story and her presence acts as a nice balance between Sonny and Joshua. Javier Bardem is also great and makes the most of his scenes, while Tobias Menzies has a particularly fantastic scene with Pitt that pulls his character into better focus.

The Movie’s F1 Racing Is Intense & Riveting To Watch

Of course, the film wouldn’t be what it is without the racing. Every time the drivers get into their cars and the red lights begin appearing before the race starts is a hold-your-breath moment. It’s a movie where you may know what’s going to happen by the end, but the journey to get there isn’t entirely set in stone. Even in its most predictable moments, the story had me in its grip.

At the film’s turning point (and you’ll know it when you see it), F1 will have you fearing the worst. All the races — and especially the last — are expertly sH๏τ, and the editing by Stephen Mirrione, as it shifts from the drivers to the crew, creates a sense of intensity that never lets up. The score from Hans Zimmer adds to the intensity, oscillating between music that keeps us on edge and then warms the heart. The most heartbreaking scene in the film, though, has no sound at all, and it’s all the stronger for it as it elevates the emotions of the moment.

F1 is a theater movie for sure. It’s exciting to watch it with a crowd that’ll react appropriately, from the laughs to the gasps to the cheers (my theater audience had all three reactions). Even if you’re not into the sport or have never watched a race in its entirety (I haven’t), F1 will still hold your interest. It might be a Formula One promotional movie at its core, but at least it’s a damn good film.