Free Time – A Delightfully Awkward Indie Mumblecore Comedy

For those who don’t know, mumblecore is a subgenre of indie film focusing on more natural acting while putting dialog over plot. These types of films often revolve around young adults and their relationships. Also, they are not necessarily everyone’s speed as their low stakes nature sees them lack enough substance to keep some audiences engaged. When it comes to Free Time, it will not be changing minds anytime soon. For films that are simple and are seemingly about nothing, there is something here but whether or not that something will be enough isn’t quite a sure thing as the subgenre goes. To its credit, it is on the shorter side, clocking in at under 80 minutes, so it will not be as taxing. However, these films live or die off the strength of its characters and this one is no different. That being said, what gives it a chance is the charmingly awkward lead performance from Colin Burgess. For better or worse, the film is all him therefore he will be where its fate will lie. Though not perfect, the premise does fall off near the end, it is still a decent time to be had.

Free Time centers around Drew (Burgess), a man in his late 20s who suddenly decides to quit his cushy job as a data analyst in favor of embracing what life had to offer. The problem with that was that he had no idea what to do with this new freedom. Awkwardly fumbling through his day-to-day, something was off about Drew as he was operating on a different level than everyone else. Disconnected from reality, the struggle was there as he attempted to continue to pave a way forward. Despite his intentions, there was always something missing in him. Working at the same job for so long, it essentially became his identity and now without it, all that was left was a void within him that he just couldn’t fill no matter how hard he tried. Lost, he kept spiralling while looking for some grander purpose. Drew thought he had moved on from his past job but realizing that he was out of his depth in the outside world, he sought the comfort of the only thing he ever knew which was that job. Now, whether or not his former employer would accept Drew back was another question altogether as he did not leave his job on the best of terms.

Drew’s frustration mounted with his former boss Luke (Webb), who refused to take him back, he set his target on his former employer, blaming them for his current situation. While he hasn’t clearly moved on, they clearly have and were not willing to entertain his particular tactics any longer. When it looked like a reality check would set him straight, Drew became something more than he had anticipated. As the film evolved from he and his personal struggles with life to him becoming a symbol for others, it veered off the rails albeit slightly as it didn’t have a firm grasp on what that meant. In the end, just like Drew, it proved to be too much for both to handle. Regardless of what it may be lacking, the one thing that holds Free Time together is Burgess’ strong performance as Drew. His relatability and awkward energy help in creating the kind of flawed and believable character needed for a film like this to work. He was fun to watch, in a trainwreck kind of way, but its simple nature goes both ways. Though there’s not much there at the end of the day, there could just as easily have been too much which could have diluted the essence of the film.

Free Time is not the worst way to spend one’s free time. It inevitably won’t be at everyone’s speed and while not without flaws, many will see parts of themselves in it. It may be short and it may be simple but it is decently effective at what it set out to be.

still courtesy of Cartilage Films

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.