Amazingly, this is a first feature from writer/director Andrew DeYoung, though he's had heaps of experience in TV and shorts. The pace is pretty tight, albeit it's a bit longer than the 'ideal' of 90 minutes for a comedy. This is a bittersweet story about stupid masculinity, loneliness, and performative societal posturing, but it certainly doesn't scrimp on the laughs.
Friendship focusses on Craig (pronounced in that annoyingly American way to rhyme with Greg) (Tim Robinson), who sits right in the middle of the Larry David / David Brent / Alan Partridge Venn diagram. He's a totally oblivious tosser, but not in a mean way, he just doesn't know where the line is. Ultimately, he's lonely. He has succeeded in alienating his wife, who has recently beaten cancer, his son appears to tolerate him, but not in an eye-rolling way, and his work colleagues think he's a bit of a dick. Doesn't matter that they are also knobheads.
His life takes a turn when a new neighbour, Austin, moves in up the road. For some reason, he takes a shine to Craig and invites him over for a drink, then out on an adventure. A bit of male bonding ensues - Craig is falling in bro-love and things are looking fine until he perpetrates a tone-deaf mishap at Austin's insufferable lads night. Not long after, Austin announces a sudden end to the friendship.
Paul Rudd, as Austin, is very good in a second lead role, but certainly outshined by Robinson. Mostly, he plays the role of straight guy like he's in a half-arsed sketch show, where he knows everyone is in on the joke. Robinson is a revelation, though. He has excellent timing and fantastic modulation in his line delivery - he knows when to go low when the scene requires it. Kate Mara, as Craig's extremely patient wife, Tami, brings the normal to the film, she's the legitimate 'straight' person to Robinson and Rudd.
This is packed with awkward moments and most of them range from amusing to hilarious. I'd wager that a few of these scenes and lines will become iconic in years to come. The film might just turn into an underground cult sleeper, in the vein of Napoleon Dynamite or Step Brothers (but likely better than both).
There are quite a few anticlimactic moments in Friendship, maybe this is a budgetary issue, but it actually plays things more realistically in any case. Key among them is the toad scene. It's one of the crispest bits of comedy I've seen for a long time. In every film like this, there's one line or moment that hits the sweet spot. For me, it was the way a conversation with a guest changes when Craig is hanging out in his garage during his wife's 'welcome home' party. Pure excellence.
This may not be for everyone, the level of acceptance of these characters' quirks depends on individual willpower, but if you can suffer bellends, you'll have a great time with it. Also, it's best to see it in a packed cinema where laughs, like scares, are contagious.
Friendship is playing at the Luna and Palace cinemas in Perth, as well as the big chains around the country.
See also:
On a similar male friendship theme, a couple of the best are Bruce Robinson's Withnail & I (1987) and Martin McDonagh's The Banshees of Inisherin (2022).
(Kid)
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