By TeeJay Small
| Published
By now, we’ve all seen just how much incredible range Kylo Ren actor Adam Driver can pack into his many performances. Whether he’s swaying his head while demanding his partner “go back to the cluuub” or plunging a lightsaber through his father’s gut, Driver is known to bring a high level of intensity and gripping screen presence to his films. 2023’s Ferrari, which is currently streaming on Hulu, is one such movie exemplifying Driver’s talents, as the actor completely transforms himself into the real-life entrepreneur Enzo Ferrari.
What Is Ferrari About?
For those not familiar with Ferrari, the movie serves as a biopic about the professional and personal struggles of the eponymous Italian race car manufacturer. The film opens in 1957, as Enzo prepares to embark upon a 1,000-mile open-road race despite multiple ongoing crises in his personal life. As he sets off, we see that his wife is grieving the death of their only son, while his mistress prepares Enzo’s illegitimate child for his upcoming confirmation into the Catholic Church.
As the narrative carries on, we learn that things aren’t much better in Enzo’s professional life, as his vehicle manufacturing company is hemorrhaging money, forcing him to cut a deal with his competitors. Facing financial ruin, Ferrari must fork over a bankruptcy-inducing check of $500,000 to his wife in order to secure her shares of the company, as she uncovers the truth about his affairs.
By the time the Ferrari movie comes to a climactic finish, Enzo finds himself at the center of a major scandal with the press, a major kink in the line of succession, and split between the two women he claims to love.
Mixed Reviews
Ferrari received mixed reviews from professional movie critics upon release, with many praising Adam Driver’s performance over all other elements of the film. Today, the movie touts a solid 73 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 74 percent general audience score to match.
Personally, I found this film to be quite entertaining and fascinating, but I can definitely see that it’s not for everyone. If you have any personal interest in cars, racing, or the history of the automobile industry, you’ll enjoy Ferrari, as the film offers a genuine deep dive into the luxury Ferrari brand.
Streaming Ferrari
Though the film was well promoted, Ferrari failed to make back its budget at the box office, making it a certifiable bomb. This is quite a shame, as filmmaker Michael Mann had been trying to get this film off the ground since the early 1990s, and was even in talks to sign Robert De Niro as the lead in a 1993 iteration of the script. Still, the fact that the Ferrari movie is out and available to stream means that the film will outlive its reputation, and find new audiences better suited to enjoy the story.
If you’re interested in checking out Ferrari today, be sure to stream the underrated movie on Hulu. While it’s a long shot from Adam Driver’s best film, it certainly makes leaps and bounds over projects such as Megalopolis, which has been growing a reputation online for being a complete train wreck.
