FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Freebie
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Katie Aselton
Starring: Katie Aselton, Dax Shepard
Runtime: 1 hour 17 minutes

What it is? Darren (Shepard) and Annie (Aselton) are a happily married couple at seven years. Their love for eachother, seems almost neverending. Finding the little things in their happiness, it seems to have come to a point for them, in which they have realized their sex life, slowly slipping. Both of them agree that it’s been a long time since they’ve done it, and that they are perfectly okay with that. But after debating, Darren reveals that it sometimes bothers him, knowing that Annie will be the only person he will ever have sex with, ever again.What turns into a fun hypothetical game of “what if” soon transforms into a very real plan to give up their marriage for one night, for a one-night stand, in hopes of it being the one way to reignite the spark they had at the beginning.

What We Think? I saw a trailer for this one awhile ago and immediately had an itch to see it. Seemed like a good indie film to check out. Directed by and starring, Katie Aselton (FX’s The League) and Dax Shepard (NBC’s Parenthood, When In Rome), the directing done by Aselton, herself.

You may not have seen much of Katie on the silver screen, but she can be seen on the FX series, The League, next to her husband, Mark Duplass. What isn’t really seen on the television show, comes out in her acting in this movie. The League brings out the slapstick, and hearty comedy I am used to seeing in Katie. While in The Freebie, Katie is able to project her true acting abilities. This isn’t to say that she is a terrible actress, she definitely isn’t. She only proved that with this movie. The emotion, and the ability to make the viewer feel the guilt, and every emotion the character feels is a great thing.

Shepard’s works should be hailed as well. With a bit of a bigger background, his higher amount of star quality is what people will associate with this one. His acting at times seemed a bit forced towards the beginning. Towards the end, the rocking boat seemed to steady on the calm water.

One would maybe read the premise of this film and automatically associate it with the Farrelly Bro’s directed film, Hall Pass. This is anything but. If anything it’s a whole ‘nother genre. I’d watch this overHall Pass anyday.

Our Grade: B+, It isn’t without it’s flaws, the dialogue and the chemistry of Aselton and Shepard shine throughout the movie. It at times fails to hold the interest, but quickly is able to regain any interest lost. A great film, I suggest to all.The film is currently streaming on Netflix 🙂

-Phx.

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