Directed by: Andrew DeYoung
Starring: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer
The opening scene of Friendship features Craig Waterman (Robinson) attending a cancer survivor support group with his wife Tami (Mara). She's grateful to have beaten cancer a year ago. He is happy about that, but not thrilled when Tami confesses to the group that cancer has robbed her of her ability to orgasm. Craig retorts that he has no problem reaching climax, which he means maybe as a joke, but as we see throughout Friendship, Craig is a socially awkward guy who makes all the wrong moves. He doesn't read the room well, and when he befriends his neighbor Austin (Rudd), he behaves with irrepressible neediness. I've heard Friendship referred to as the Fatal Attraction of male-bonding comedies. There aren't any rabbits boiled alive in a pot, but sometimes we wonder if Craig will go in that direction.
Craig meets Austin, who is new to the neighborhood and is the local TV weatherman. Austin is friendly and invites Craig to activities which stretch his boundaries, like gathering mushrooms in the wild and using the sewer system to infiltrate City Hall. The movie never says in which state the action takes place, but we can figure the Midwest. The weather seems forever fall and winterlike. For a stretch, Craig and Austin are best buds, and we have an "I Love You, Man" vibe (which also co-starred Rudd) going. Then, after Austin moves from nights to mornings and is forced to deal with all new job pressures, he is unable to devote the time to Craig that Craig suddenly craves, and Craig becomes obsessive. When Austin sets boundaries and tells Craig that he doesn't wish to continue their friendship, Craig declares, "You accepted me too early," as if it were somehow Austin's fault that they became quick friends.
Craig's life falls apart. It was hanging on by a thread anyway. His wife is often having drinks with her ex-boyfriend and acts like she's ready to bolt the marriage at any second. Craig's son loves his mother but detests Craig. They see through Craig and it took Austin longer to catch on. Craig on the surface is awkward but seemingly normal, but add some pressure and setback and you have a whole other animal. Friendship is like watching a fascinating disaster unfold. Situations occur in which Craig thinks he is making things better, but due to his inability to read people, he only makes them worse for himself. The rest of the world seems fine to move on without him.
Robinson, whose work I was not familiar with before this movie, is a study in desperation run amok. He, like the movie, is compelling to watch. You think Rudd's Austin will be the guy to snap since he comes on strong, but he is relatively normal compared to Craig. Everyone in Friendship is, but Craig's curse is he thinks he's the victim. Craig is not an appalling figure, just one who causes you to shake your head in an odd mix of pity and amazement that he's gotten this far in life.
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