TIFF 2024 – Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd make “Friendship” the most Demented Bromance of the Year

By: Myles Herod –
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Ostensibly a comedy, “Friendship” directed by Andrew DeYoung, has the hallmarks of a thriller, but we can’t put our finger on why that is.

The film follows Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson), a suburban father and corporate schlub whose company develops apps making brands more addictive. Outside of work, Craig buys all his clothes at the same shop and doesn’t have many friends, instead opting for home domesticity with wife Tami (Kate Mara) and their son Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer).

One day when Craig delivers the wrong mail to his new neighbour, Austin (Paul Rudd), he instantly acquires a cool new pal and a new outlook on life. Austin really seems to do it all. He plays in a rock band, roams the city’s sewers for kicks, and sports a mustache as the local TV weatherman.

However, “Friendship” really announces its true intent when their budding relationship sours due to Craig’s obsessive tendencies. By matching Robinson with Rudd in this tale of male camaraderie and toxic traits, Andrew DeYoung’s film debut surprisingly crackles with comedy, left-field screams and full-blown cringe scenarios.

It doesn’t add up to much and it doesn’t concern itself with rhyme or reason. Rather, its strength lies in its surreal non-sequiturs: like when Craig licks a toad resulting in a hilarious anticlimactic drug trip.

Sure, there might not be much character growth, catharsis, or fulfilling closure in “Friendship”. But maybe that’s its point? I’m inclined to think so. See, eccentrics like Craig aren’t just affable goofballs sometimes, they can also be disturbed and dangerous individuals.