FRIENDSHIP

(director/writer: Andrew DeYoung; cinematographer: Andrew Rydzewski; editor:
Sophie Corra; music: Meegan DeWitt; cast: Tim Robinson (Craig Waterman), Paul Rudd (Austin
Carmichael), Kata  Mara (Tami), Jack Dylan Glazer (Steven), Rick Worthy (Mr. Mendoza), Whitmer Thomas (Ian), Daniel London (Stan), Eric Rahill (Mike), Jacob Ming-Trent (Nathan), Billy Bryk (Tony), Meredith Garretson (Bianca), Josh Segarra (Devon); Runtime: 100; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Nick Weienfeld, Johnny Holland; A24; 2024)

“I was underwhelmed.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Director/writer Andrew DeYoung is noted for making TV films. In his debut feature movie he opts for an episodic film with off-beat sub-plots and cringe-worthy comical moments that focuses on an off-putting character rather than being a full-blown narrative.

The clueless, idiotic, self-absorbed and socially awkward oddball Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson) is a marketing executive. He lives in the bland suburbs and is in a loveless marriage with his cancer recovering wife Tami (Kata Mara), and they have a teenage son Steven (Jack Dylan Glazer). His wishes are to see the new “Marvel” film and make his new neighbor, a suave TV weatherman and member of the punk rock band called Mayor Nicholas Sucks, Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd), a friend, so he will have at least one friend in the neighborhood. But he screws up by acting like a jerk.

The narrative toys with Austin’s immaturity and insecurities, and the number of bizarre things he does because of his lack of self-awareness, such as trying to get high by licking a spiked toad.

The film is never more than a series of hit or miss TV-like sketches, and since I found more misses than hits I was underwhelmed by its attempts as a social satire. 

It played at the SXSW Film and Television Festival.

REVIEWED ON 7/1/2025  GRADE: C+
dennisschwartzreviews.com