Flintoff | Disney+ Original Review
Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff is one of the most well-known British sportsmen and TV personalities, but in 2022, his life was turned upside down following a car crash while filming the hit series, “Top Gear”.
This documentary tells Andrew’s life story, from winning two Ashes series for England, to becoming a British TV icon, but the primary focus of the 90-minute film is about his recovery after the accident.
Another major part of his story, is how he has had to deal with career highs, personal challenges, and the pressures of living under the public gaze. Covering his rise to fame as a cricketer and becoming one of the country’s biggest sports stars, resulting in him developing a drinking problem, which is addressed in the documentary.
The film also highlights his feelings about being in the spotlight following the crash, as the paparazzi were trying to get photos of his face while undergoing different surgeries and treatments. We get to see how much he struggled with that additional pressure from being in the public, especially with dealing with people seeing his face after the accident.
Many of Andrew’s friends and family, including his wife and Michael Vaughan, James Corden, and Jack Whitehall, also appear in the film. We get to see how his friends and family rallied around him after the crash, getting him back into cricket, when he was at his lowest. With his career as a “Top Gear” presenter over, with the show being cancelled after his accident, this documentary follows how Andrew’s career has shifted to coaching, giving him something to once again be passionate about and something to live for. While also returning to presenting TV shows like “Bullseye”, as he tries to move forward with his life.
A large portion of this documentary is about his life as a professional cricketer, giving an insight into his competitive nature. I’m not a cricket fan, so I didn’t really know much about him until he started presenting “Top Gear,” where his banter with Chris and Paddy made the show really enjoyable. We also get to see an insight into how his career shifted from cricket from TV following a new friendship with James Corden, how he was adapting to a new life to recreate that feeling of playing cricket by doing crazy stunts and how that eventually led on to “Top Gear”.
I’ve been a “Top Gear” fan for decades, especially following the reboot with Clarkson, May, and Hammond. However, the show has often pushed the boundaries too far, with serious consequences. I’m glad this documentary gives Andrew a way of showing the aftereffects of what went wrong, but also showing how his love for cricket has helped him throughout his life.
Overall: “Flintoff” is a hard-hitting documentary that showcases his life, with all the ups and downs that come with living in the public life. There are two different stories told throughout this documentary, covering Andrew’s cricket career and how he has recovered after the crash. It’s an enjoyable documentary about Andrew’s life, so if you’ve ever been interested in learning more about him, especially following the tragic crash, this is for you.
Rating: 4 Out Of 5
“Flintoff” is coming to Disney+ in the UK and Ireland on Friday, 25th April 2025.
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