A24 Films

Friendship is the newest comedy from studio A24, starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd, written and directed by Andrew Deyoung. The story follows Craig (Robinson), a lonely and chronically awkward family man, who becomes increasingly obsessed with his new charismatic neighbor Austin (Rudd), leading to dangerous and often hilarious repercussions. The film had its initial premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in late 2024, before having a wide release in theaters nationwide on May 23rd, 2025.      

Anyone familiar with Robinson’s past work should know exactly what to expect in Friendship, awkward, crawl out of your skin, cringe comedy. Robinson’s sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave has garnered a cult following for this exact reason, receiving equal parts praise from fans and criticism from those who just “don’t get it”. While it’s safe to say that I Think You Should Leave is an incredibly divisive show that won’t work for many, those who do click with the uncomfortable comedy are very vocal about it, with the show being a gold mine of iconic quotes and moments that have become widespread inside jokes among fans. 

Friendship understands its audience, and does its best to cater towards fans of the show. Most of the time, Friendship feels far more like a Tim Robinson movie than it does Andrew Deyoung’s. While Robinson didn’t write the film, Friendship feels right at home with the rest of his work, offering lots of awkward situations, quotable moments, and plenty of screaming and profanity. While this is great if you’re a fan of I Think You Should Leave, it could leave many audience members feeling alienated who are not a fan of the show, let alone familiar with it.

While it may go without saying, being a fan of Robinson is a must to enjoy this film. Featured in every scene, it feels like A-list actor Paul Rudd takes a sideline in favor of Robinson, who absolutely dominates the screen for Friendship’s 97 minute runtime. Thankfully, Robinson proves that he can hold his own in a feature length film, giving a surprisingly good performance apart from just his comedic chops. While Robinson may not have a huge range, he has the ability to convincingly portray a descent into madness. By not playing his hand too soon, the wacky character Robinson plays is able to translate well from a 5 minute skit to a feature length film without becoming too strenuous on the audience. 

Many will write off Friendship as just a stupid comedy, and while most of the time it is, I feel as if Deyoung’s filmmaking deserves more credit than that. Very early on in the film we learn that Craig had helped install a speed bump in the neighborhood. Deyoung makes an effort to show this speedbump multiple times throughout the film at different points in Craig’s character arc. While in the beginning it acts as a warning for Craig to slow down his growing infatuation for his neighbor Austin, it quickly becomes a desperate plea for him to stop his behavior, eventually playing a role in the film’s hilarious and intense climax.  

The dynamic between Robinson and Rudd is yet another highlight of the film. At first, Friendship presents the two as foil characters, one a charismatic, kind man who everyone loves. The other, a narcissistic pathological liar unable to accept responsibility. However, as we learn more about the men as the film progresses, the more similarities become apparent. In the end, there isn’t a good or bad guy. Sure, Craig may be more overtly insane, however Austin isn’t as perfect as we once thought.          

While it may not make a big splash now, Friendship is undeniably a future cult classic that is sure to resonate with many. With hilariously awkward moments, endless quotable lines, surprisingly good acting and interesting filmmaking, Friendship is set to be the best comedy this summer. With a leading role in a feature length film under his belt, my hope is that Robinson continues to get more work, as he consistently proves himself to be one of the best comedians of this generation. 

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