Based on true events, Gran Turismo follows the story of an underdog whose gaming skills help him win the Nissan competitions and also become an actual racedriver. The story here isn’t very novel and the writing keeps things simple which ultimately works in the film’s favour. It does evoke all the right kind of emotions despite it taking a few cliched turns that makes for a compelling viewing. The screenplay standing at a shade above 2 hours is pacy and packs in several situations which are interesting thus contributing to a nice little underdog story.

The drama does begin with the introduction of the protagonist who is a gaming arena genius, often playing out Gran Turismo, a car simumation racing game, with a lot of flair much to the dismay of his father who is a former footballer. Elsewhere, the marketing officer of Gran Turismo pitches a proposal to train a few gamers in order for them to attain professional driving licence while transforming them into actual racedrivers. It does seem like a match made in heaven for the protagonist but not without his share of ups and downs.

The proceedings are engrossing and engaging especially with the visual representation of the virtual simulation car races that add a layer of novelty to the drama. The portions involving the training that the protagonist has to undergo along with the right element of technicalities does contribute to a fascinating watch. The narrative is designed to be an exhilarating experience for the viewers as the drama makes a gradual shift from the virtual world to the actual car racing arena. While the writing remains superficial, never quite getting into the psyche of the individual, it is the pacy sport that takes center stage, delivering the much needed adrenaline rush. You can definitely draw parallels from a far superior film like Ford Vs Ferrari but the drama definitely does hold your attention when the actual races are showcased. The professional rivalry between the drivers is nicely showcased thus adding to the excitement in the drama.

The writers borrow parts of the narrative from exact true events(though the timelines might be a bit jumbled up) wherein one of the races ends up being a huge tragedy involving one of the spectators. While this incident acts as a motivational catalyst for the protagonist although I did feel that the drama just dips slightly at this juncture by manipulating the viewer with the emotions in play. The final act though does reignite the right kind of emotions in a finale race that definitely makes for an exciting watch. The final act is slightly cliched but still a lot of fun to witness. Overall, the screenplay is definitely well penned that scores despite its several cliches in the narrative.