GameMaker Bounce off solid objects (Space like)

[ajrdesign]

I've got a top down movement system implemented using the distance the mouse is away from the player and this collision technique. Which detects collision really well and i like the slippery aspect but at higher speeds I want objects to bounce off of each other and I'm having a lot of trouble implementing it.

I tried implementing this script but didn't have much success in getting it to work like it shows in the demo.

step:

#region Movement
            var dir_x = mouse_x;
            var dir_y = mouse_y;
            var point = point_direction(x,y, dir_x,dir_y);
            var mouse_dist = point_distance(x,y,mouse_x,mouse_y)
            max_speed_point = camera_get_view_height(view_camera[0])/2 - 8
            var speed_per = spd/max_speed
            cur_speed_point = max(0,max_speed_point * speed_per)
            var padding = 5;
            rotate_towards(point,turn_speed)
            #region change sprite based on turning
                var mouse_ship_dif = angle_difference(point,image_angle)
                switch (sign(mouse_ship_dif)) {
                    case 1:
                        var base_image = 2
                    break;
                    case -1:
                        var base_image = 4
                    break;
                    case 0:
                        var base_image = 0
                    break;
                }

                if image_index > base_image + 1 {
                    image_index = base_image
                }
            #endregion
            if mouse_dist > cur_speed_point + padding {
                spd = approach(spd,max_speed,acceleration)
            } else if mouse_dist < cur_speed_point - padding {
                spd = approach(spd, 1, acceleration)
            }
            if spd > max_speed {
                spd -= acceleration;
            }
            if spd < 1 {
                spd += acceleration;
            }
            move_obj(spd,image_angle)

move_obj

/// @arg speed
/// @arg direction
var spd = argument0;
var dir = argument1;

var xtarg = x+lengthdir_x(spd,dir);
var ytarg = y+lengthdir_y(spd,dir);

if place_free(xtarg,ytarg)  {
   x = xtarg;
   y = ytarg;
               
} else {
   var sweep_interval = 10;
   
   for ( var angle = sweep_interval; angle <= 80; angle += sweep_interval) {
       for ( var multiplier = -1; multiplier <= 1; multiplier += 2) {     
           var angle_to_check = image_angle+angle*multiplier;
           xtarg = x+lengthdir_x(spd, angle_to_check);
           ytarg = y+lengthdir_y(spd, angle_to_check);     
           if place_free(xtarg,ytarg) {
               x = xtarg;
               y = ytarg;  
               exit;       
           }
                       
       }
   }
}

Any advice on how to create a bounce off of solid objects effect would be much appreciated.