Every once in a while, there can be a special moment in a movie theater.
A moment of pure joy and excitement that comes from witnessing something truly original.
On Tuesday at South by Southwest, the audience watching Friendship experienced exactly that: a once-in-a-lifetime cinematic moment they won’t soon forget.
Trying to sum up Friendship in just a few words feels nearly impossible. The buddy “comedy,” starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, who has crafted a film so unique that it feels nearly impossible to plug into a genre or find comparable films.
It’s equal parts hilarious, terrifying, and deeply unsettling. The story follows Craig, played by Robinson, best known for his Netflix series I Think You Should Leave. Anyone familiar with his work understands the distinctive, offbeat humor that makes him such a comedic innovator.
When a new neighbor named Austin (Paul Rudd) moves down the street, Craig introduces himself, sparking the possibility of a new friend. As their friendship blossoms, you can’t help but feel genuine happiness for Craig. Until it all goes wrong.
The film shifts sharply into horror-thriller territory, delivering moments so unsettling that you may find yourself wanting to cover your eyes. But the through line of the entire film is how incredibly hilarious every single scene is. The crowd in Austin erupted into so much laughter that most likely only 75 percent of the dialogue was able to be heard.
Robinson is a true comedic genius. Rudd is as charming and hilarious as always and the supporting cast led by Kate Mara provide the perfect support for two of the greatest comedic actors working today to do their magic.
In fact the film has a scene that may be one of the funniest scenes I can ever remember. To provide any more detail would potentially spoil something that anyone that sees this film should never see coming,
DeYoung uses his incredible script, his perfectly cast actors, and an inventive style of filmmaking to craft a movie so incredibly original.
This film is destined to be a comedy cult classic. Watching it felt like the first time seeing Napoleon Dynamite, Anchorman, or The Hangover. College kids will be quoting lines from this film for years to come.
I can not wait to see it again as I feel it might be the best comedy of the past 10 years. But what I do know for certain is it is a movie I will never forget.
