You ain’t never had a friend like him.

In Friendship, we meet Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson), a mild-mannered suburban dad and husband who is moderately successful but very lonely. But all that changes when he meets neighbour Austin (Paul Rudd). As the two men strike up a friendship, Craig finally rediscovers a piece of himself that he didn’t know existed. However, as things begin to spiral out of control, Craig’s new love of life comes crashing to the ground, leading to an obsessiveness that threatens to destroy them both.

There’s no question that Friendship is designed to be the breakout film of rising star Tim Robinson. Although he’s scored rave reviews for his Netflix sketch show I Think You Should Leave, Robinson has been building his career up for years. (In fact, he even had a brief stint on Saturday Night Live.) Now, with the release of Friendship, Robinson finally seems ready for his cinematic close-up.

Arming himself with a solid comedic cast, Robinson’s Friendship is a boisterous and often hilarious journey into the challenges of middle-aged male-bonding. It’s brash, bold and genuinely wild in moments. Even so, what surprises most about the film is how seriously it resonates with the audience.

After all, Robinson’s Craig Waterman is genuinely a wet blanket. He’s awkward and frequently alone. He struggles to maintain any relationship, including with his wife and teenage son. But connecting with his neighbour, Austin, seems to reinvigorate him. As the two men head out on adventures together, Craig seems open to anything. Suddenly, the man who wouldn’t leave the house can’t wait to get outside with his new friend.

But when things go wrong, they go very wrong.

And this is where Friendship feels all too real. Without a relationship to bolster him, Craig becomes increasingly isolated and increasingly difficult to deal with. Without Austin by his side, he simply doesn’t seem to fit anywhere, even in his own home. In these moments, Robinson’s character feels more honest than the wild and loud-mouthed style of comedy that we most associate with him. Yes, he goes for broke in comedic moments. But frankly, it’s these times that we genuinely feel empathy for Craig and the film feels most grounded.

In many ways, that makes Friendship an interesting launch for a comedian like Robinson. Unlike other debuts such as Sandler’s Billy Madison or Ferrell’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgendy, this piece contains plenty of more reserved moments. Although Robinson has spots that make you laugh (look for the sliding door and ‘drug trip’), there’s something about his performance that makes you want to cry at the same time.

Having said this, it’s also interesting to see how Rudd lights up the screen, even outshining Robinson at times. As Austin, Rudd offers one of his best performances, providing comedy gold on more than one occasion. (In fact, his performance as Austin feels like the evolution of Anchorman’s Brian Fantana.) But even he reveals the more human side to his character. Underneath the bravado and crazy nights, Austin is also simply a married man trying to hold on to something that he believes he had as a young man. He’s got friends and stability. But not a lot else.

Essentially, he and Craig are two sides of the same coin. Except one finds it easier to ‘fit in’.

But that’s what makes Friendship stick. Despite billing itself as Robinson’s ‘kick down the door’ to onscreen comedy, the film operates best when it stays truthful. Even at its most insane, this is a comedy that wants to explore male loneliness in the modern era. And its those moments that really pull no punches.

Friendship is available in theatres on Friday, May 16th, 2025.