(CNN)“Fifty Shades Freed” need to mark the merciful end of the motion picture trilogy let loose by E.L. James’ books, and there’s lots of artfully-lit airbrushed sex– and unexpected guffaws– for those with a taste for midnight-movie-style chewy badness. Otherwise, the safe word needs to be “prevent.”
Pretty quickly, nevertheless, the honeymoon’s over, as the main couple attempts to get used to marital happiness. Anastasia (Dakota Johnson) wishes to preserve her profession in publishing, however need to handle a rich other half, Christian (Jamie Dornan), who’s overprotective, envious and managing. And while it may seem like an elite issue, there’s business of handling all those ever-present servants, who demand calling her “Mrs. Grey,” matching the official method they resolve her partner.
The adjustment, which reunites director James Foley and author Niall Leonard, dutifully goes through the movements, a description that likewise uses to the crucial efficiencies. What cannot be overemphasized, alas, is simply how dull and tiresome everything is.
The title, a minimum of, does get something right: Everyone related to the “Fifty Shades” franchise need to feel rather freed by proceeding, now that Christian and Anastasia’s story is, successfully, bound.