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2. 08-06-2025
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Friendship: The Twisted Buddy Comedy We’ve Been Missing
by Ila Nabi

Andrew DeYoung’s take on male friendship is not exactly what you might be expecting from his new film Friendship, a black comedy released last month. The film tells the tale of lonely marketing executive, Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson), attempting to befriend his cool new neighbour, weatherman Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd). While the film takes many twists and turns, it is thoroughly enjoyable not knowing DeYoung’s next move and where the characters will take the audience on the journey that is Friendship. 

Taking place in the fictional town of Clovis, Craig is set to move him and his family out of his neighbourhood with his house on sale. He meets his newly moved-in neighbour Austin after delivering a package mistakenly sent to Craig’s house. Austin invites him over for a drink to which Craig is reluctant to go. His wife, Tami, encourages him to go since Craig doesn’t have any male friends and spends most of his time in an armchair after work. 

Craig’s life is transformed after spending time with Austin who opens his eyes with adventures through a hidden sewage tunnel system and finding wild mushrooms to eat. Since Craig doesn’t seem to have much experience with long lasting friendships, his awkwardness starts to get in the way of his friendship with Austin. Austin invites Craig to a gathering at his house with his friends but after he gets injured, Austin decides he no longer wants to be friends with Craig. 

Craig starts to become obsessed with Austin and later tries to replicate his friendship with other people in his life such as his wife, his son, and his co-workers. However, each attempt fails and everything only continues to go in a downward spiral for Craig. 

What makes this film so great is the performances of all the actors who really bring DeYoung’s writing to life. Although he is taken out of his I Think You Should Leave (2019-) environment, Robinson plays his character as one of the many iterations on his show. It is perfect for the absurdist story at play and he handles Craig’s most outrageous actions in a way that makes the whole theatre burst out into laughter. 

Rudd also handles his character well, playing the straight man to Robinson’s funny (or mad) man. In this film he is opposite to his character in I Love You Man (2009), being cool and charming to everyone he meets. What is especially notable about Rudd’s performance is the way he plays off Robinson, acting cool and mysterious when they first meet, then pretending like they were never friends after the mishap with his friends and Craig. 

Some other notable performances include Kate Mara, who plays Tami, and Jack Dylan Grazer who plays Steven, Craig’s son. Mara plays the annoyed wife perfectly. She is noticeably irritated with Craig from the beginning, constantly reminding him of her need for a bigger car and going off to spend time with her ex-boyfriend over him. Grazer plays a believable teenager (one of which we see so few of on screen), hating his father for his strangeness, by his mother at every possible moment, and caring very little about much around him. 

Another striking feature of this move is the set and costume design. Although images on iPhones want to us to believe that everything takes place in the present, the set and costume design of a film makes us feel like it takes place in multiple timelines. Craig’s house is designed in true 2000s fashion with a boxy big screened TV, a wall-phone, and grandma-esque patterns all over the house. Alternatively, Austin’s house looks as if it was taken straight out of the 1970s, with a sleek mid-century design and warm tones inviting you in. Austin himself looks like a 1970’s rockstar with his shaggy hair and bushy mustache. The film falls under a growing popularity of media where the set and costume design throw the audience off like in Severance (2022) and The Studio (2025).

While Friendship is a bizarre take on the importance of bonding with people outside of familial and work circles, it is necessary for there to be a comedy film in a world where remakes and blockbusters continue to dominate. It certainly will not be like anything the viewers have ever seen before, and they will absolutely laugh their way to the end.

Ila Nabi
Ottawa
June 8, 2025

1. en-ashram-N/G
2. 08-06-2025
4. Tweet