Freddie Flintoff Documentary Review: A Frustrating but Fascinating Insight
The latest documentary to hit Disney+ is Flintoff, a 98-minute film that follows the life of former English cricketer and television presenter Freddie Flintoff. The documentary, which is available to stream now, provides a candid and often poignant look at Flintoff’s life, both on and off the pitch. However, as our reviewer notes, the film’s non-linear structure and Flintoff’s own reluctance to confront certain topics hold it back from being a truly great watch.
According to The Guardian, "Flintoff was designed as the big unveiling of the new, post-accident Freddie Flintoff. His days as a cricketing prodigy are over and so, it seems, are his days as a permanent light entertainment fixture." The documentary begins with Flintoff sitting in a hospital room, recovering from a car accident that occurred on the set of Top Gear in 2022. As The Guardian reports, "He can’t feel his lip, the one that was torn from his face in a nightmarish car accident on the Top Gear track in 2022. But more than that, he is mentally checked out."
One of the problems with Flintoff is that it is not the first time we have seen this story told. As The Guardian notes, "Flintoff’s comeback has already been conducted in public. This documentary is preceded by two others – Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams on Tour and Freddie Flintoff: Living With Bulimia – that already covered a lot of its ground." In fact, Flintoff has been quite open about his struggles with fame, eating disorders, and PTSD in the past.
Despite these issues, Flintoff is still a fascinating watch. As The Guardian observes, "Very few people have had a life as spectacular. He was a blazingly talented cricketer from the off, burly and powerful and fast and charismatic, which gave him enough of a platform to transcend the sport." The documentary features a number of talking heads, including James Corden, who discuss Flintoff’s career and personality.
However, the film’s structure is often disjointed and frustrating. As The Guardian comments, "Told chronologically, with an episode dedicated to each chapter, Flintoff could have been a definitive deep-dive into an effortlessly compelling character. Instead, though, the film whiplashes backwards and forwards in time." This makes it difficult to get a clear sense of Flintoff’s journey and the impact of the car accident on his life.
Flintoff himself is also a complex and sometimes frustrating figure. As The Guardian reports, "At one point in the film he is asked if he prefers to be called Freddie or Andrew, and jokes that there are two of him, or “maybe more”." However, when confronted with uncomfortable topics, such as his relationship with his Top Gear co-hosts Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris, Flintoff becomes evasive and defensive.
In conclusion, Flintoff is a documentary that is well worth watching, but it is not without its flaws. As The Guardian concludes, "Make no mistake, Freddie Flintoff is a fascinating man and it’s clear that his story is far from over. Had this film been afforded a little more time and distance, it could have been something very special. As it is, though, it may be for fans only."
The documentary Flintoff is available to stream on Disney+ now.
Sources:
- The Guardian: "Freddie Flintoff review – a fascinating but frustrating insight into a complex character" https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/apr/25/flintoff-review-freddie-documentary-disney-plus
