Friendship

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd

“Men shouldn’t have friends” is the tag line and heart of “Friendship” now streaming on HBO. My theory is that it refers to the cut throat nature of our evolution. Man strong. Man no cry. Man must not embarrass himself. Man not gay.

Tim Robinson stars as Craig Waterman, a reclusive man married to Tami (Kate Mara) who wonders if she’ll ever orgasm again. We learn this as Tami shares at a cancer survivor therapy group. Tami also shares about her newly reignited friendship with ex Devon (Josh Sahara). Craig is with her at the session and awkwardly shares afterward that he’s having plenty of orgasms, thank you very much.

This introduction to Craig’s cringe worthy sense of humor is a perfect encapsulation of the movie, and the cause of some viewers discomfort and resulting dislike of Andrew DeYoung’s script and direction. It can be painful to watch.

Written for and brilliantly acted by Tim Robinson, a comic that specializes in making things awkward, the film feels like an 8mm grainy home movie with the patina of washed out, muted pastels. This soft femininity counteracts the harsh reality that men are three times more likely to kill themselves than women.

Paul Rudd plays Austin Carmichael, a local night time weatherman with a secret that Craig becomes the holder and protector of. Rudd is splendid in the role; charismatic, confident, successful and on the knife’s edge of that secret costing him his place in the pack.

Dark comedy isn’t for everyone. Personally I loved the cringiest moments, the embarrassing sense of humor, the awkwardness of knowing the game but being unable to conform to its rules. It was like watching my home movies.

Really enjoyed it. Four out five stars.