Watch Free Samples
- R
- 2012
- 1 hr 19 min
-
5.6 (2,334)
Free Samples is a 2012 comedy-drama film directed by Jay Gammill and starring Jess Weixler, Jesse Eisenberg, and Halley Feiffer. The movie tells the story of Jillian, a law school dropout who is stuck in a rut and struggling to find herself. Jillian, played by Weixler, spends her days drifting aimlessly, drinking heavily, and sleeping with random men, wondering what to do with her life.
One day, Jillian reluctantly agrees to help her friend Nancy (Feiffer), who is working on a food truck, by handing out free samples of frozen yogurt in Venice, California. She is grumpy, hungover, and not at all enthusiastic about her new gig, and she quickly gets irritated by the customers who keep coming up to the truck to ask for free samples. Among the people Jillian meets during her shift is a young boy named Tex, who befriends her and starts following her around. Jillian is at first annoyed by Tex's presence, but they eventually bond over their mutual love of music.
Throughout the day, Jillian deals with a variety of eccentric customers, including a stoner surfer dude (Jason Ritter), a failed screenwriter (Tippie Hedren), and a sleazy musician (Jesse Eisenberg) who convinces her to help him play a prank on his ex-girlfriend. As the day wears on, Jillian begins to open up to the people around her and starts to see her life in a new light.
At its heart, Free Samples is a coming-of-age story about a young woman who is trying to figure out who she is and what she wants out of life. Jillian is initially portrayed as an unlikable character, but as the film unfolds, we see her vulnerabilities and her struggles, and we begin to root for her. Jess Weixler delivers an excellent performance as Jillian, showing great range as she portrays a character who is at once sarcastic, vulnerable, and funny.
Jesse Eisenberg also delivers an impressive performance as the sleazy musician who befriends Jillian. Eisenberg's character, named "Willy," is initially portrayed as a one-dimensional jerk, but as the movie progresses, we see that he too has his own struggles and vulnerabilities. Halley Feiffer is also excellent as Nancy, Jillian's friend who is trying to make a living selling frozen yogurt.
Many of the other characters in the film are played by real-life residents of Venice, giving the movie a sense of authenticity and realism. The film's soundtrack is also excellent, featuring songs by The Donkeys, The Loyal Divide, and The 88, among others.
Overall, Free Samples is a funny, touching, and highly enjoyable film that tells a relatable story about the struggles of growing up and finding one's place in the world. It's a small movie with a big heart, and it's definitely worth checking out.
Free Samples is a 2012 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 53.