'Free Samples' is this year's indie darling

Posted Monday, April 8, 2013 at 4:26 PM Central
Last updated Monday, April 8, 2013 at 4:34 PM Central

by John Couture

I'm calling it now. All those Juno wannabes and Garden State impostors can just pack it in for the rest of the year.

2013's indie darling film will be Free Samples.

How do I know this after just watching one trailer? Well, forget for a moment that I have an insanely great track record with such things. See last year's incredibly uncanny and early designation of Safety Not Guaranteed as such if you desire proof.

There are few things that you can look for when trying to decide which indie will be the one. First, a painstakingly hip soundtrack primarily made up of a band that you hate to admit you knew nothing about until watching the trailer. For Free Samples, that would be Say Hi.

Say Hi is literally a one man band in Eric Elbogen and you've probably heard them as they've been creeping into commercials and TV series over the last few years. Most likely, you heard their cover of the Violent Femmes' "Kiss Off" and depending on how old you are, you either hated them for ripping off a great song from a great band, or you just thought it was their original tune.

Either way, Say Hi is on the verge of breaking out and much like The Shins in Garden State, you'll want to add them to your rotation. Of course, I'm so far behind in my music (thanks fatherhood), that they might already be a big thing. Anyhow, the film has new music from them and that's key.

The film features cameo, smaller roles from stars you recognize you are either trying to re-establish their indie cred or become relevant in the current generation. After selling out, I think it's a safe bet that Jesse Eisenberg fits the former's mold. Tippi Hedren would count for the latter, although she is sort of hip right now with that whole HBO film The Girl about her early career.

One thing that I always look for in a truly great indie darling is that actress on the verge of breaking it big. Aubrey Plaza, Ellen Page and now Jess Weixler. I first really took notice of Weixler in 2011's The Lie. She was pretty impressive and I knew it was only a matter of time for her to catch her big break. And it looks like Free Samples might just be it.

Finally, there has to be catchy dialog that not only is quotable, but is easy to relate to. For instance, when Jason Ritter quips in the trailer, "I'm a guy, I'll have sex with anyone who will let me" I'm pretty sure I've actually said that exact line before. They also get bonus points for properly using the word "literally," which is inexplicably becoming a lost art for some reason.

So, get "smack in the middle of the good stuff" and let your disdain for food truck hipsters fly high while you watch the trailer for Free Samples.

So, I was wandering around the old Interwebs and I found a second slightly different trailer. I'm not sure which one I like more. They both work for me. They are both similar, yet oddly different.