TV Review: FREE AGENTS U.S. - Playful, Witty Romp With Likeable Leads

rating: 4

The British version of Free Agents slipped under my radar so I came to the first episode of the American remake with no preconceived notions of what to expect, and I'm happy to report that as the credits rolled at the end of the show I was left feeling like I'd been more than adequately entertained. Ok, so I may be a little bit biased, as any show that features the fantastic Eli 'Paperboy' Reed singing the theme tune will automatically have a place in my affections, but even the most hard-hearted reviewer would struggle to deny that Free Agents has an energy and charm that recommends further viewings. The programme opens with its two central characters, Hank Azaria's Alex and Kathryn Hahn's Helen, lying in Helen's bed after sleeping together for the first time. Recently divorced Alex then promptly bursts into tears and recently bereaved Helen (whose apartment contains 22 pictures of her dead fiancé) calls him a cab. The next morning as Alex arrives at work (and is grilled for information about his nocturnal activities by his colleagues) it transpires that he and Helen also work together. And there, very simply and within three minutes of the show's start, we have been told everything we need to know: this is a story about two friends who sleep together, neither of whom is ready for a relationship. There's not too much of a plot line running through this opening episode - Alex has to go on a date that he isn't really emotionally ready for - but it doesn't really matter as this is a show about people, not plot. And luckily for us the people who populate this show are entertaining and amusing enough that we want to watch them. Ok, so they're not wildly original - a kooky, kinky boss; a married geek who's desperate for some excitement; an overgrown fratboy who could be Scott Lavin from Entourage's long lost brother and an office bitch - but each of these characters is played with a charm and verve that breathes life into the clichés. And unlike many pilot shows, Free Agents successfully walks the fine line between giving us enough time with the central characters and boring us with them. The script is taught and snappy, with some wonderful little touches - the drunken Helen handing her glass of wine to Alex before finding another one that she'd poured for herself and forgotten about was a particular highlight. The dialogue, which contains gems such as "clubs are just warehouses where they keep the ass hats at night", crackles along at speed and gives the show an upbeat tempo that's matched by sharp and lively direction perfectly suited to the tone of the script. There's also a lovely surreal flavour to the programme, as demonstrated by Joe Lo Truglio's turn as a security guard who makes videos of himself attacking meat with antique weapons, or by the fact that Alex can't help dissolving into tears when he hears 'Sugar Sugar' by The Archies. But of course, the show lives or dies based on the relationship of the two main characters: if there isn't the right chemistry or the leads aren't likeable then it's game over, and fortunately over the course of the episode Azaria and Hahn win us over - just. There are plenty of people who are only too happy to slate Azaria's abilities as a screen actor, but here he imbues Alex with just the right level of vulnerability without making him seem pathetic. Hahn too delivers a strong performance, giving her Helen an external sass and confidence that doesn't override her character's loneliness or grief. I'm sure too that over time these two characters will grow, both together and apart - and there's certainly enough here to make us want to follow (at least some of) that growth. Add the aforementioned great supporting performances (Al Madrigal and Natasha Leggero are particularly good) and there's plenty to encourage us to watch the show's upcoming events. The key question to ask yourself when watching any pilot is 'Would I watch episode 2?' In the case of Free Agents I'd have to answer with a definite yes - it' a playful romp with decent leads, a strong support cast and a witty script - what's not to like? In fact I enjoyed it so much I'm going to go out and get hold of a copy of the English version too.