FRIENDSHIP Reviewed by GREG KING
Director: Andrew DeYoung
Stars: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra.
Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson, from the tv sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave, etc) is a socially inept advertising and marketing executive and family man. He treats his fellow workers with contempt, but at the same time wishes he was able to join their little smoking circle during breaks. A boring suburban family man Craig has a wife Tami (Kate Mara, from tv series House Of Cards, etc), who runs a flower shop and is recovering from a recent cancer scare, and a teenaged son in Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer, from It, etc). But Craig has grown emotionally distant from his family, which has driven Kate back into a relationship with her former boyfriend Devon (Josh Segarra).
Then he meets his new neighbour charismatic and smooth-talking television weatherman Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd, from Anchorman, etc). Craig seems like a cool friend. He plays in a punk band. Craig’s attempts to ingratiate himself into Austin’s circle of friends prove embarrassing as he makes one social faux pas after another in his desperate attempts to impress.
Austin has shown Craig a hidden system of tunnels that lead into city hall, but when Craig tries to show these underground tunnels to Tami she becomes disoriented and goes missing. Eventually Craig and Austin are arrested for trespassing. After Tami is found, Craig finds himself ostracized by both her friends and family and his life begins to unravel. After Austin cuts off ties with Craig he becomes obsessed with repairing the fractured friendship which leads to some awkward moments.
Friendship is an absurdist comedy about male friendship that also explores themes of male loneliness, the need for connection, social awkwardness, midlife crises, mental health, and masculinity. This is the debut feature for writer/director Andrew DeYoung, who has made a lot of short films and directed lots of episodes of tv series. He brings a deadpan style to this edgy black comedy about an awkward bromance. But he gives the film an episodic feel, especially in the second half which is crammed with lots of shorter sketch like moments, rather than a cohesive narrative.
In a role written especially for him Robinson brings an awkward desperation to his performance as the self-destructive sad sack who is tone deaf to social cues and relationships. His attempts to ingratiate himself with Austin become more cringeworthy, bizarre, uncomfortable and excruciating to watch. The film is a showcase for Robinson’s unique style of deadpan comic styling, and he creates one of the most outrageous and bizarre screen characters. However, I found his quirky character unsympathetic and too off-putting here, and that kept me at a distance from the film. Rudd brings an edgy quality to his performance as the seemingly good guy who has a darker side. Rudd and Robinson create an interesting and often intense dynamic here. Mara does well with what is largely an underwritten role.
The film is in the same genre of “cringe comedies” of discomfort like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Office Space and the like, but I found its attempts at humour grating at times. Friendship is not a film for everybody, but those attuned to DeYoung’s and Robinson’s offbeat sensibility and wavelength will probably appreciate what is on offer.
★★☆
