This refreshingly anarchic, darkly strange, and absurdist look at male bonding and the breakdown of a relationship is also the funniest American comedy in years.
When an errant delivery pulls suburban dad Craig Waterman into the orbit of his mysterious and charismatic new neighbour Austin Carmichael, a sweet bromance appears to blossom over an innocent evening of urban exploration, punk rock, and a mutual appreciation for paleolithic antiquities. But is this really the start of a beautiful friendship…?
The Garden Cinema View:
As with ostensibly ‘serious’ Adam Sandler films, such as Punch-Drunk Love and Uncut Gems, transposing a comic-clown persona like Tim Robinson into a world closer to reality makes for a oddly psychotic and edgy experience. Thus, what initially feels like a callback to I Love You Man descends into the kind of white collar worker meltdown of Falling Down and stalker energy of Fatal Attraction.
Friendship is filmed and edited with a degree of flair, and does introduce themes of male bonding and social anxiety. Although the frequent inclusions of sketch-type set ups means that it never has the consistency of purpose as the last great friendship-breakup movie, The Banshees of Inisherin. And it’s those moments that make Friendship feel geared towards Robinson fans, rather than a wider audience.
