In Like Flynn (2018)

In Like Flynn is the kind of sunburnt, salt-sprayed adventure yarn that remembers movies are allowed to be exuberant, where danger and mischief ride side by side and the horizon always promises trouble worth chasing. Russell Mulcahy leans into a playful, old-school swashbuckling vibe—scrappy camaraderie, pulpy villains, and a pace that keeps the boat moving even when the odds don’t—while Thomas Cocquerel makes Errol Flynn feel like a star in the making, all charm and reckless confidence. It’s not a pristine historical biopic so much as a tall tale told with a grin, full of brawls, close calls, and a sense of “can you believe this happened?” energy. If you’re allergic to R-rated roughhousing, violence, or a bit of drug-and-bathhouse color, it may not be your voyage—but if you want a fun, fast-moving escapade that embraces legend over lecture, this one’s an easy ticket.

In Like Flynn wants to be a roguish, sunburnt throwback adventure—part origin myth, part lads-on-a-boat caper—with Errol Flynn swaggering through danger, opium smugglers, and jungle threats. The problem is the script often feels like it’s coasting on the “mostly true” hook, with thin characters, clunky one-liners, and action beats that land more cheesy than thrilling. If you need sharp writing, believable relationships, or a story that builds real momentum, this one may test your patience. Still, the scenery and old-school pulp energy can be mildly entertaining if you’re happy to treat it as a lightweight, slightly messy B-movie romp rather than a gripping adventure.