FRIENDSHIP (HBO MAX) (2025)

SYNOPSIS: Suburban dad Craig falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor, as Craig’s attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Google simply defines "friendship" as the state of being friends. But for how long? That’s debatable. Friendships can last a lifetime, or just a few days or months, depending on circumstances.

In Friendship, comedian and ex-SNL writer Tim Robinson plays Craig Waterman, a man who takes the idea of friendship a little too seriously. Craig is a self-described lone wolf. His marriage to Tami (Kate Mara) is on the rocks, as she eventually seeks comfort in her ex-boyfriend. At work, Craig struggles to collaborate with colleagues, and at home, his teenage son Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer) is firmly attached to his mother. Isolated and awkward, Craig seems trapped in his own bubble until he crosses paths with Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd), the charismatic weatherman from the local TV station.

Austin appears to be the perfect best friend: warm, funny and delightfully unpredictable. He takes Craig on underground adventures through the city’s hidden tunnels, invites him mushroom-picking, introduces him to new instruments and even promises him a ride if he buys a new car. For a brief moment, Austin becomes the buddy Craig desperately craved. But when an unexpected incident drives a wedge between them, Austin abruptly distances himself, leaving Craig desperate to reclaim the bond.

The premise echoes Rudd’s 2009 comedy I Love You, Man, but Friendship is edgier, darker and far more unhinged. Craig Waterman is both sympathetic and unsettling: at heart a decent man but painfully socially awkward. Writer-director Andrew DeYoung crafts an uncomfortable exploration of male loneliness though its themes could easily resonate beyond gender.

While scattered with comedic beats, the film feels more sorrowful than funny. Craig’s office meltdown, his bizarre misadventures with his wife in the sewer and even his breakdown involving a gun are less comedic antics than distressing portraits of a man spiraling out of control. This isn’t Anchorman-style absurdity; it’s raw, unnerving desperation.

Rudd’s Austin however is the film’s saving grace, injecting bursts of charm and levity. Without spoiling anything, there’s one surprising reveal about his character that stands out as the film’s best gag—playful, harmless and layered with meaning. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to fully lift the film out of its heaviness.

In the end, Friendship plays less like a comedy about bonding gone wrong and more like a dark psychological drama. Watching Craig unravel is an uneasy, discomforting experience. Truth be told, most viewers would rather spend time with Austin than endure Craig’s downward spiral.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee