Within the phenomenal opening scene, Drew (Burgess) goes to his superior at his job to precise his dissatisfaction with being extra of a knowledge entry worker than a knowledge evaluation one. What begins as a dialog that appears like it is going to result in a brand new place or possibly even a promotion ends with Drew quitting on the spot, aggravating his boss by leaving him with out an worker. Drew takes his stuff and goes again to the condominium he shares with a clickbait-writing roommate, having no concept what he’s going to do subsequent.
Drew’s efforts to determine that final half is the driving narrative pressure of “Free Time.” He rapidly realizes that his mates have lives that embrace jobs, leaving him little to do in the course of the day—a bit the place his roommate’s girlfriend yells at him for a way typically he’s watched the identical film on DVD (this time with commentary) is superb. As he faces extra folks in his life who’re surprised that he give up a very good job on this financial local weather, Drew begins to comprehend that he made a mistake. When the band he’s in shifts focus to nation, leaving Drew’s keyboard enjoying behind, it’s one other blow.
From artwork to fiction to motivational audio system, we’re continually advised to profit from our free time, however what precisely are folks like Drew speculated to do with all that freedom? How do you make your goals come true when you do not actually have fascinating goals? A number of the route is a little bit too unfastened, and the continuous piano rating grows a little bit grating, however Brown’s script is splendidly pure and natural, permitting Burgess to float by way of the movie in a manner that’s constantly fascinating. Whether or not he’s utterly blowing a possible hook-up (Jessie Pinnick, so nice in “Princess Cyd”) or aggressively making an attempt to get his job again, Burgess is ideal right here, by no means leaning too exhausting into what might have been a very mannered efficiency. Everyone knows guys like Drew. We could have even been guys like Drew.
“Free Time” is a humorous character research for about an hour earlier than it turns into one thing much more outstanding that I couldn’t probably spoil. Suffice to say, this film has some surprises up its sleeves, they usually unfold in a manner that actually drives residence the theme that free time might be extra emotionally expensive than we’ve been led to imagine.