Movies News Talk
Finding purpose in your mid-twenties right now is kind of difficult; rising rent prices make it nearly impossible to live anywhere notable; a sense of impending doom makes it feel as though the future doesn't really matter; all of this has resulted in a depressed listlessness that could impede any sort of desire to make meaningful progress. For young people caught between college life and the crumbling concept of what it means to be successful in a society that keeps shifting the line, it's not all awful, but it also feels like it's never been worse.
Rent Free meets two best friends: Jordan (David Treviño), who is slightly more stable but only because he has a girlfriend who is tired of helping him hold it all together; Ben (Jacob Roberts), who is naturally chaotic and is moving to New York City from Austin, Texas, Ben is forced to go back to Austin with Jordan after his lack of impulse control causes a falling out with his would-be NYC roommates. There, in a moment of drug-fueled love, the two resolve to try to live for a year free from paying rent. Though reality is far darker, theoretically it's a great concept that would let them save for a return to NYC.
Roberts is a discovery as the untidy, naturally unmoored Ben. Seeking Grindr hook-ups and working the gig economy under the Texas sun, he wanders about Austin avoiding commitment in all spheres of his life for a nomadic lifestyle. Ben would much rather be back in college than trying to make a living in the modern world; his messy nature points to an underlying immaturity and a resistance to let go of the past. Although Ben's commitment problems are obviously the root cause, Jordan's own passive approach simply aggravates his indecision.
Jordan appears to have a more grounded viewpoint and steady existence on the surface, but he is equally free as Ben when his relationship breaks. He has a long-term girlfriend and has lived with her, but this all starts falling down—partially due of Ben but also because of Jordan's own lack of motivation. Living rent-free is more Ben's than Jordan's, but like all stupid ideas, it seems like a good one if someone else is agreeing to do it with him. At the end of this rent-free path, there is a goal and Jordan and Ben refuse to let go of it regardless of how difficult it looks to reach. They also, often, keep their link intact. Ben and Jordan's friendship, formed over 15 years, is unusual and exactly complementary, allowing them to grow in tandem while still being mercilessly honest with one another.
Every place Ben and Jordan move into gets a title card with the address, count of bedrooms and bathrooms, and monthly rent. Rent costs have surged in Austin's recent tech explosion, which has resulted in gentrification and the sanitizing of much of what distinguished the city. Major cities all throughout the nation are experiencing this, hence it's difficult to picture Jordan and Ben trying to make it elsewhere and failing still. Though it's wrapped in caustic Comedy, Rent Free is a depressing look at the present for young people, and it's a shockingly honest look at the situation.
Rent Free doesn't strays too far into dramatic terrain; when it does, it seems earned, a sobering moment that sharpens the hazy edges of our heroes' vision into crystal plain light. It could be cloying, but Rent Free presents Ben and Jordan's discoveries with a detached cynicism, contradictory tenderness and cold detachment living together in discordant harmony. For a film so closely depicting a generation on the front lines of collapse and change, it's an appropriate clash of emotions.
Offering a keen and perceptive view of the challenges and worries of teenage life, Rent Free is an original and refreshing indie Comedy. The comedy in the movie reflects the complexity of negotiating a demanding environment by being both sarcastic and sincere. The way Rent Free depicts two friends negotiating the complexity of their life—Ben and Jordan—feels real and familiar. The movie expertly depicts the strains of society expectations, the ups and downs of friendship, and the search for purpose in a society sometimes seen to be overbearing.
Fernando Andrés, the director of the movie, creates a hilarious and provocative story. Jacob Roberts and David Treviño give really outstanding performances that give their characters complexity and dimension. Viewers who have ever felt lost or disappointed on their road through maturity will find great resonance in Rent Free. The indie comedy stands out for its honest depiction of friendship, cutting wit, and perceptive observations, which also challenge viewers.
One movie you'll definitely keep with you is Rent Free. Timeless and universal are the film's themes of friendship, purpose, and the search for meaning. The honest way the movie presents modern society's Young Adulthood is perceptive and sympathetic. Anyone who has ever felt lost, demoralized, or unsure about their position in the world has to see Rent Free.
Rent Free opened at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2024, and it has received overwhelmingly good reviews. Critics have complimented the film's honest portrayal of friendship, smart comedy, and perceptive observations. The movie Rent Free is sure to start a discussion and leave viewers thinking about the difficulties and successes of negotiating a convoluted society.