[Movie Review] Friendship (2024)
Plot Summary: Craig Waterman can’t do anything right. His coworkers don’t respect him, he has no friends, and his wife and son are becoming more and more distant by the day. When a charming couple moves into the neighborhood, Craig is immediately drawn to Austin Carmichael, a rugged and charismatic figure. Could this new friendship be exactly what Craig is looking for? Will Craig ruin this, like he ruins everything else?
Runtime: 97 minutes
Director: Andrew DeYoung
Writers: Andrew DeYoung
Main Cast:- Tim Robinson as Craig Waterman
- Paul Rudd as Austin Carmichael
- Kate Mara as Tami Waterman, Craig's wife
- Jack Dylan Grazer as Steven Waterman, Craig's son
Review by: Lauren C.
Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson) is an “average joe.” He works as an advertising executive in small town Colorado and lives in the suburbs with his wife Tami (Kate Mara), who is in remission from cancer, and their teenage son Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). When he comes home, he helps his wife (a little bit) with her flower business…but that’s about it. He typically parks himself on the couch in front of the television, until a couple moves into the neighborhood. Craig soon meets Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd), a handsome and rugged weatherman at the local news station. Craig is enamored with Austin, a man that is both a rugged individualist and a valued member of his tightly knit group of male friends. Craig longs to be his best friend and fantasizes about their adventures in an incredible montage. Austin invites Craig to a boy’s night at his home so he can meet his friends and become one of the guys. Unfortunately, Craig has a fatal flaw: he is socially awkward and lacks basic common sense, which leads to major mishaps, like the accident that ends the friendship--at least for Austin.
The “male loneliness epidemic” has been all over the headlines for nearly two years now. Every corner of the internet is debating the cause of the rise of loneliness, isolation, and a lack of intimate friendships among men. Reddit threads and blog posts to legacy newspaper op-eds and even NPR; people of all kinds and perspectives are trying to get to the bottom of this problem (or questioning whether it even exists). This topic is the backdrop for Friendship; but viewers should not worry, this film is no dramedy. It is hardly even a meditation on the subject. Andrew DeYoung’s script and the talents of Tim Robinson (Craig) and Paul Rudd (Austin), use the “epidemic” as a vehicle for laughs. It is a testament to the skillful writing that the film manages to make us laugh without making light of the more serious issues associated with the topic.
What I liked:
Simply put, Friendship is hilarious. The gags, the stunts, and the absurdity kept me on the edge of my seat for the duration of its economical 97-minute runtime. I had never before wondered what a prestige buddy comedy could look like, but this film has the perfect ingredients. Tim Robinson returns to form as an awkward loser in this performance, making the audience cringe (with delight!) with nearly every line delivery. As Austin, Paul Rudd becomes a fantastic foil to Robinson’s Craig, not quite the Straight Man, as he is still quite kooky in his own right, but certainly more grounded in reality (and social skills). Writer and first-time director Andrew DeYoung creates a comedy that makes you laugh out loud, pause to take in the beautifully crafted visuals expected from an A24 film (shot by cinematographer Andy Rydzewski), then return to full-throated laughter. The film is supported by a striking score with composition and music direction by Keegan DeWitt. Choral arrangements and chanting emphasize how incredibly serious this friendship is to Craig, with pop songs sprinkled throughout to show how effortless and cool Austin can be.
What I didn’t like:
Friendship is such a great ride that justifies its choices effectively. So frankly, this section is more of a “Your mileage may vary,” rather than “What I didn’t like.” To start, if you don’t enjoy a little (or a lot of) cringing with your comedy, this film is simply not for you. This pace slows down in the third act, but be patient…there is a bit of a double ending here, where Craig’s life as he knows it blows up in his face.
Summary
A must-see for comedy fans and prestige film fans alike. Director Andrew DeYoung combines the powers of a talented team of artists and technicians to create a film that defies expectations of what a pure comedy can look like and be about.
