Friendship

Screened at Mary Pickford Theater, Cathedral City, California I think I need to see this again. Going into Friendship, I made an ass of myself by assuming this was a Tim Robinson-penned project, and alas it is not. It's from Andrew DeYoung, who more "famously" has worked most often with the BRILLIANT comedians Kate Berlant and John Early, the latter of which has appeared in the actual Tim Robinson-penned Netflix series I Think You Should Leave. That series I have watched each of its three seasons repeatedly as they never, and I mean never fail to make me laugh. Short seasons, short episodes, every moment packed brilliantly with absurdist humor that hits the sweet spot for myself and many others of his devoted fan base.

So with this film being reviewed as "I Love You, Man for sickos" and one long episode of the aforementioned series; and the incredible reviews it's been receiving from critics and general audiences alike, I was ready to goooooooo. The audience of older folk in my theater (standard here in the Palm Springs area) were ready too, and I wondered to myself as the lights went down if they knew what they were getting into, and as it turns out, they did. The smaller audience made up for the lackluster crowd with the volume of their laughter throughout the film, bouncing and echoing off the walls, it was almost distracting. But I was relieved there were no walkouts and that they enjoyed themselves so much. It was really sweet, actually. The problem was, I didn't know I was getting into, apparently.

Again I want to reiterate I need to see this again. Like some episodes of I Think You Should Leave, they can take time to seep in before they click in my aging, rotting brain. I remember season two when it came out, and unbelievably, like this film, I didn't laugh once. But now it's my favorite season. Actually, hang on, that's a bit of an exaggeration. I did chuckle a few times during this. But the kind where I can't breathe from laughing so hard? Yeah no, that did not happen here at all. I did however like the film. It was really enjoyable, it was absurdist in ways you'd expect from Robinson, who was great in the lead role. Paul Rudd was the perfect match in their pairing. The tone was right throughout and despite the lack of laughs for me on this first watch, the pacing was great and it all breezed by quite perfectly. It's a unique comedy to say the least.

I'm guessing and hoping a few more views will uncover those laughs for me, the kind that appear evident to most. I'm baffled at myself really, for not experiencing this like the vast majority who feel this is the funniest movie of the year, and even the funniest in the last ten years. My sense was this would be an acquired taste, for a niche but enamored audience I'm generally part of. So, how is it that I am the one not seeing it this time, and yet general audiences are clicking with it so strongly? I'm far from disappointed or upset, instead really enjoying figuring out what I'm missing, in hopes that additional watches will reveal it all to me.

If you enjoy absurdist, black comedy, I definitely recommend this, and if not, how can I not recommend it? The people have spoken, and this one's bonafide.