Thembi L. Banks’ Young. Wild. Free. is a unique coming-of-age tale that involves the difficult life of Brandon (Algee Smith), a teenager struggling to complete school while also helping his mother, Janice, portrayed by Sanaa Lathan. Though she works hard, the mom of three sometimes has a difficult time keeping their household together, and a tumultuous relationship with her children’s father, Lamont (Mike Epps), only adds to those hardships. While on the verge of eviction, Brandon’s problems are only exasperated when he loses his job due to an altercation at work. Furthermore, his grades are slipping, threatening his studies and chances for graduation.
As if his circumstances aren’t dire enough, Brandon is robbed at gunpoint alongside the owner inside a convenience store. The culprit happens to be beautiful a woman named Cassidy (Sierra Capri). Brandon is sucked into Cassidy’s energy when she randomly kisses him on the lips before fleeing the store. She doesn’t harm either, but the moment forever changes Brandon’s life when Cassidy tracks him down, drawing him in deeper. Together, the pair embark on a “wild” journey of skipping out on checks, robbing a soda machine, and bashing a car along the way.
While the film frequently drops hints of Brandon’s apparent anger management issues, it seems that Cassidy allows him to be free during their time together, with his mental health and anxiety sometimes showing up in their relationship. The pair’s youthful mischief and bad decisions lead to an ending that has both confused and drawn viewers in.
How does Young.Wild.Free End?
After their chaotic run through Los Angeles, it seems that Cassidy and Brandon are finally forced apart. The mysterious young teen even threatens to shoot herself, though she does not. With some distance between them, it seems that things finally begin looking up for Brandon. His school counselor informs him of a way to catch up and receive his diploma on time. Janice is even committed to saving her family’s home by seeking extra work to bring in more money. However, the film does not end as a feel-good story tied in a neat little bow. We actually learn that Brandon has been hallucinating the entire film.
Cassidy was nothing more than a figment of Brandon’s imagination. In fact, the many crimes that she seemingly lured him into were actually him. Brandon appears to have concocted Cassidy in his mind as a means to give him both a confidence booster and a companion. The final twenty minutes of Young.Wild.Free gives an insight into Brandon’s psyche, showing him reuniting with Cassidy for one last hallucinogenic drive. This is where we learn that she does not exist after a drive-by shooting leaves him wounded, with her seemingly disappearing and then reappearing in the passenger seat. From there, the flashbacks begin, showing him actually talking to himself during their many conversations. Even the store robbery that kicked off their fiery romance was him pulling the gun on the clerk.
In the final scene, Brandon joins his mother in therapy to address his own cognitive issues, once and for all, though his thoughts of Cassidy are not far behind.
