by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
It is barely an overstatement to say that Tim Robinson’s striking, specific comedic flair has inspired a cult of beloved fans to track his every move. Every season of his hit sketch series I Think You Should Leave is met with critical adoration, followed by an avalanche of memes and quotes across the internet. Each new appearance he makes, whether as “Ugly Sonic” in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers or in a string of minor TV voice roles, ends up being a scene-stealer. His recent rise in mainstream popularity has even led longtime fans to plead and petition for a streamer to resurrect his cult classic sitcom, Detroiters.
Despite his ever-expanding niche in the cringe comedy sphere, it was still a slight shock to learn that he would be co-leading an A24-produced comedy film with Paul Rudd. The film, simply titled Friendship, follows socially stunted suburbanite Craig as he forms a bond with his new charismatic neighbor. Combine that with Craig’s monotonous office job and a handful of awkward social soirees, and fans will immediately recognize the archetype Robinson brings to life in this film. As one of SiftPop’s resident Tim Robinson aficionados, I was positively itching to see just how weird he was willing to get this time around.
It should immediately be noted that the humor of this film is, in fact, familiar. Some scenes could be plucked out and thrown into I Think You Should Leave sans context and blend without a hiccup. However, Robinson’s unique success transcends his singular sense of humor. It is his ability to tackle different situations with the same comedic lens and still produce endless laughs and quotable lines. This fact remains true throughout the film. Sure, some jokes might fall flat, but even that manages to enhance the overall theming and tone, because ultimately, this is a film about a socially awkward goof desperately trying to find meaningful companionship and camaraderie. That brings up another element which is absolutely worth noting, because it will be a huge deciding factor for your enjoyment of the film: This movie’s sense of humor is firmly grounded in the cringey clunkiness of social situations. For some, these are the moments that will bring tears to their eyes in fits of laughter. Others will liken this dialogue to nails on a chalkboard that makes the experience an insufferable, almost horror-like experience.
Fans of Robinson’s series have all had an instance where they show a friend a favorite sketch and are met with crickets and confused side-eyes. It’s an almost meta rite of passage for the fandom. This release will certainly continue the trend, with family outings evenly split: some members in side-splitting hysteria, and others sitting awkwardly, waiting for context they’ll never get.
The quirky tone being targeted can only land with some standout leads and a slew of bit parts. Robinson and Rudd have pitch-perfect chemistry and sharp comedic timing. Kate Mara also delivers a reserved, thematically rich character as Craig’s wife, Tami. And the minor roles from the supporting cast shine throughout, with Connor O’Malley being the unsurprising standout. Unfortunately, Robinson’s longtime collaborators Sam Richardson and Patti Harrison fail to appear in this release, but the new faces largely made up for their absence.
The piece that makes Friendship stand out the most within Robinson’s catalog is the timely theming. So far, I’ve largely been attributing the work to Robinson, because everything he’s in tends to be covered in his fingerprints. But it should be noted that the film is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung. The director has made his rounds through a variety of TV shows, but this is his feature-length debut. The fact that the film is so thematically sound, confidently using its jokes and lighting to explore a variety of poignant ideas, presents a great deal of potential for DeYoung’s career. Admittedly, the pacing lags a bit in the middle. DeYoung focus a little too much on the darker, mysterious elements of the plot, which leads to a few scenes that feel like they’re missing a laugh. But it’s a minor complaint in the grand scheme of first forays onto the big screen.
Message-wise, Friendship covers a lot of ground. The “male-loneliness epidemic” is a buzzword right now that is often misunderstood and misrepresented. This film, however, manages to handle the subject with nuance, offering a thoughtful perspective. Craig desperately desires connection, but lacks the tools to build it. Given the chance of making a new friend, he blazes past boundaries and social norms. Failure causes him to lash out instead of pausing for internal reflection. His ego is tried as he feels ostracized and fails to fill the gaps with his monotonous home-life. Obviously the lengths to which the characters must go are cranked up a bit for the sake of the bit. But the film’s depth deserves a mention because the pain Craig experiences is uncomfortably real.
Friendship is exactly what I expected and quite a bit more. This will hopefully mark a transition for DeYoung, from a freelance director for cable sitcoms to a powerhouse of this decade’s comedy films. Robinson continues to prove that Saturday Night Live completely underestimated his abilities and the crowd fervently seeking his style. Rudd seems like he can finally breathe, as he takes a break from big studio pictures. Hopefully, fans of comedy, creativity, and originality will come out in droves so studios see that audiences have an appetite for bold, unique storytelling.
Rating: Loved It
Friendship is currently playing in theaters
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