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So last night I saw a screening of The Freebie, a new indie film that opens today in select cities, is helmed by first-time director Katie Aselton, and stars Ms. Aselton and Dax Shepard (of NBC’s treacly series Parenthood) in the leading roles. Now, I’m always prepared to loathe dramatic movies that don’t rely on a real script, where the actors ad-lib the majority of their allegedly profound dialogue. (And if I never see another loaded dinner-party scene with 30-something characters laughing, interrupting each other, and hitting the audience over the head with the film’s subtext, it’ll be too soon.)
But I’m not a film reviewer, and this post isn’t a film review. (Besides, I actually liked the movie, despite my best efforts not to. It was well-acted, filmed, and edited.)
But one really can’t help but talk about The Freebie afterward, as my screenwriter friend and I did over drinks and dinner following the showing. The Freebie centers around Annie (Katie Aselton) and Darren (Dax Shepard), an almost sickeningly in-love committed married couple in their 30s living in Los Angeles, who love each other, like each other, get each other, confide in each other, communicate with each other, have fun together, eat ice cream from the same spoon, flirt with each other at the farmers’ market, and laugh all the time. It’s the perfect relationship, this. (Not to mention perfectly irritating.) Problem is, Annie and Darren are experiencing a bit of a dry spell in the bedroom, though neither one seems particularly upset about this phase – on the surface, anyway. Instead of having sex, they sweetly do crossword puzzles together in bed, and seem perfectly happy doing so. But instead of – oh, I don’t know – seeing a marriage counselor about their underlying sexual issues, they proceed to hatch what seems like a really, really bad plan.
Katie Aselton and Dax Shepard in "The Freebie" (2010)
Fast Forward (and Spoiler Alert!):
Darren and Annie mutually decide that a one-night stand (each with a stranger, held off-premises on the same night) is exactly what they need to reinvigorate their sexual chemistry as a devoted married couple. Afterward, they won’t talk details. No names or specifics. They’ll never see their respective one-night-stands again. Darren and Annie will just come back together at home and marvel at how their relationship is now better, deeper, and, most of all, way more sexually exciting than it has been in recent months. Problem solved, right? Maybe. Maybe not.
At Blisstree, we really want to know what you think about this concept. We know you probably haven’t seen The Freebie yet, but have you ever done or considering doing what the film’s tagline proposes: “A One-Night Experiment In Infidelity”?
Is there anything to this, or is it just an absurdly dangerous idea all around? (The Freebie doesn’t ever address whether or not the “unfaithful” sex will be the safe kind, which I think the filmmaker should have.)
Maybe it’s not such a terrible thing to be that honest, communicative, and trusting with your partner. Or would we rather just not communicate at all, and later find out that our partner has been cheating on us – and then start thinking about cheating on our partner?
Sound off if you dare. Consider it your freebie.
Check out The Freebie’s blog, Untie-the-Knot and watch the movie trailer here:
I love the idea of this, but I wonder what the reality would feel like. I love my husband and he loves me, but we have both admitted it is natural to want to be sexual with other people. We’re just not yet sure what to do with those feelings…
Many have never loved someone so much that they can never lie to them in any way, I am glad to see a movie that portrays the level of honesty that is required for a perfect relationship. Not to say that a perfect relationship would consist of this situation, but this level of communication. Most people have thoughts of infidelity even if they know they would never act on them. To tell your significant other that you have those thoughts, rather than acting on them with disregard, shows them pure respect. True love is dynamic, unconditional, and absolute. It is not bound by social or religious restraints.
I fuck whoever I want whenever I want, I just don’t tell my gf….
And I’d never watch a movie directed by a woman, written by a woman, starring that same woman…. it’s obviously going to be an ego feminazi nightmare that I don’t want to waste my time on.
Name one woman who ever directed a decent movie, and no, I don’t think sofia copolla is a good director, and it speaks volumes that she has to ride the coat tails of her father, who is a man, to even get movies made.
This site is a piece of dog shit.
Wow- seems really thought-provoking, intense, and really cool. As a huge believer in open-relationships, and a mutual respect, understanding, and loving bond in relationships, I think this is such a cool idea to bring mainstream. I don’t believe the Christian format of marriage is in any way logical or respectful of women, or reality. I think it is very NATURAL for people to want to be with others- love is not concrete. I am married and adore my husband, and have no desire to be with anyone else. Why? Because I know the door is open if want it to be. I can’t wait to see this flick.
Quite possibly the dumbest thing I have ever heard of and most likely thought of (and considered) by people who have never truly met their life partner. If you experience the desire to do this, don’t waste your time reinvigorating, instead continue the search for your life mate.
Delvek, you said it all– this is not an empowering story, it’s a sad one.