Friendship (Review)

Yeah man, it's a review for a movie called Friendship. It stars Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve loved a comedy film that’s primarily a comedy film (except a couple scenes that’re shot like a horror film but that’s beside the point.) You’re in for a great time if you like cringe comedy or especially if you dig Tim Robinson’s I Think You Should Leave.

I understand the comparisons are inevitable, but it seems like it comes from the same cloth as that show. Not that I feel the film’s a “two-hour episode” of the show, but it comes from the same vein. Which is impressive because the writer and director was not involved in the show. Which leads me to believe that Tim Robinson is like a banana in a smoothie. No matter how small, miniscule piece of banana you throw in the thing, the ENTIRE thing will taste like banana. Doesn’t matter if there’s vanilla, spinach, peanut butter, berries, etc., the WHOLE fucking thing will taste like a banana; a vastly potent ingredient. That’s Tim Robinson. And you know what? I love banana (I mean Tim, I fucking hate bananas), so this film was right up my alley. 

There’s something about… Tim’s face. He slowly appears on screen in the first couple of minutes and already people are laughing. Then he fills a coffee cup up to the brim of the mug and causes more trouble for himself than he needed to. That’s the whole crux of the movie, actually. Imagine that one coworker you deal with that is so obliviously socially awkward and never gets better had his own movie. That guy just needs a friend but should also take some social classes of how to thrive better in social situations. 

That’s the main target(?) of the movie. It’s basically about the “male loneliness” epidemic in culture today. This film’s swing is that sometimes these poor guys just don’t know how to interact with people and seem to be hopelessly inept and just need some help. However, it’s a comedy film and amplifies the situations and creeps into the throes of obsession as Tim Robinson makes a friend in Paul Rudd and doesn’t take it lightly when Paul cuts the friendship off after an incident. Like, you want to root for the guy, and you want him to make some friends but the guy just cannot get out of his own way! 

The performances here are great. Tim as Craig bringing his usual energy. Paul as Austin curiously playing the character you want to be friends with, as opposed to his friendless character, Peter in I Love You, Man. The two have the same plot as a matter of fact, but Friendship turns into a more dark, stalker-esque route. I swear to God, there were a few moments I thought this film was going to make a Boon Joon Ho-esque genre pivot into a psychological thriller. 

Kate Mara is also excellent here. She does what great comedian actors do and plays her part deadly serious. As if she’s in a drama. Her character Tami is in remission from cancer and is feeling she made the wrong choice marrying Craig and wants to live life to the fullest. That makes the comedy land harder I think. What she’s doing is not funny, but the way she’s navigating these ridiculous situations so straight is very funny. 

The script is also a high point. The one-liners are planted like a little bomb that stick with you after the movie’s done. The overall comedic plot of the story is also tightly written with these recurring jokes that act as mini-arcs to the minor characters keeps the whole thing concise while maintaining not having too many jokes and having the whole thing feel bloated. The story is key here. I would actually love to see this again or to read the script because it’s one of those scripts that must read like magic at just how contained and balanced it is. Secretly, I’m a little jealous truth be told. What a pleasure it was seeing this!  

Also, during my screening, this guy did that thing where you laugh so hard he started coughing, but this time he coughed so hard that he ripped this LOUD ass fart. Like everyone definitely heard it. During the quiet part of the scene too. It was awkward as the movie and made me and my friends laugh that much harder. I just about died laughing. 10/10 theater experience. Friendship, check it out.

Also, We should’ve stayed in Afghanistan!

If you know, you know.