SXSW Review: ‘Friendship’ is a Fantastic Vehicle for Tim Robinson to Do His Thing

It’s not so easy for everyone to make friends. The way that people present to those around them may not match their internal perception of themselves, which can lead to awkwardness and discomfort in social situations. Meeting someone who is accepting and inviting can be game-changing, but it can also prove to be a façade that, when leaned into too strongly, can dissipate almost immediately. Friendship is a story of two people who enter into each other’s lives and one who wants to stay, an unfortunate scenario that isn’t fated to have a happy ending.

Craig (Tim Robinson) is good at his job but not great with people, and it’s been a rollercoaster ride with his wife Tami (Kate Mara) having her cancer newly in remission and his son Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer) more interested in video games and spending time alone than seeing the next Marvel movie with his dorky dad. When Craig brings over a package mistakenly delivered to his address meant for his new neighbor Austin (Paul Rudd), he instantly senses a kindred spirit. After spending a good amount of time together, Austin invites Craig over to meet his other friends, a regrettable decision that leads to Craig’s increased isolation and desperation to get back to that one-on-one dynamic that was working so well.

This is the feature film debut for writer-director Andrew DeYoung, who has an impressive list of TV comedy credits, including Shrill, Pen15, and Our Flag Means Death. The script for this film is fun, but this is an instance where casting is absolutely key and makes the film work. Robinson is effortlessly funny just walking around and muttering things to himself, and the more the film lets him do that, the better. Rudd is just as easily charming, outfitted with a goofy mustache and a sense of adventure that makes audiences believe that Craig’s time with Austin really does feel magical.

The suburban setting of this film is helpful to the unraveling of its narrative, with Craig seen constantly in a coat that seems much too big for him huffing up the hill to reach Austin’s front door. The bonding adventure that serves as the beginning of their friendship involves Austin taking Craig into the sewers so that they can take a secret passageway to explore City Hall, a truly weird outing that, under any other circumstances, including those Craig tries to recreate later, would be entirely off-putting. But there’s something alluring and seductive – in a platonic way – about Austin’s nonchalant attitude and his embrace of whatever comes his way, something Craig hasn’t really been able to do in his monotonous life.

Rudd’s role in this film may conjure up memories of I Love You, Man for some viewers, and while it’s a worthwhile reference, this film has a slightly more disturbing underbelly when it comes to Craig. It seems like he may just be a weird guy, but as the film goes on, it becomes clear that his inability to read the room has led to a fundamental misunderstanding of how to interact with people, which becomes highly troubling and problematic in certain instances. This is still a comedy – and Robinson is hilarious in it – but it doesn’t offer only laughs without a little bit to think about at the same time.

This film’s title doesn’t encompass all possible relationships but instead looks at what it means for people to want to spend time with each other, and how quickly that can all slip away after one faux-pas, or a major realization that someone isn’t who they initially seemed. Robinson and Rudd are a delightful pairing, and even though there end up being more cringeworthy moments than positive ones, it’s still fun – if admittedly awkward – to watch this film. DeYoung has a good eye for characters and smart setups, and given this impressive debut, he’s sure to do great things in the future.

Movie Rating: 7/10