Allegory of the Man Cave

The film poster for Friendship. Courtesy of A24.

Male friendship is weird—to yearn for it is even more so. This is a dynamic that writer and director Andrew DeYoung delights in dismantling and examining. The latest comedy from film company A24, Friendship, marks DeYoung’s disturbingly funny and brilliantly off-putting directorial debut. DeYoung describes the story as “a middle-aged guy who’s spinning out about trying to be friends with somebody.”

Craig, played with disarming awkwardness by Tim Robinson, works in digital engagement. He spends his days analyzing how to keep strangers addicted to apps which he himself cannot put down. Craig’s distant relationship with his wife and son makes him long for company. Austin, played by an ever-charming Paul Rudd, is a weatherman living down the street whose existence glows with charisma. Craig adores Austin’s punk band, outdoorsmanship, and crowd of friends; he wants in.

This is not a film about a bromance. Instead, it’s a film about a mediocre, middle-aged Craig who wants to be friends with his cool neighbor, Austin. That’s literally it. When it doesn’t work out, that’s enough to break the protagonist. Craig is sent on a bizarre downward spiral that leads to a wild 97 minutes of breaking and entering, firearm theft, nicotine addiction, and becoming a danger to his friends and family…

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