Friendship (2024), that  Andrew DeYoung-directed comedy starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson, is a film I’d hoped to find deliciously awkward and fun.

Unfortunately, as I started to watch the story about a man’s friendship with his neighbour taking some unexpected turns, ‘fun’ was not the word because I felt compelled to quit within ten minutes.

Many may rightly argue that ten minutes is not enough time to know what a film could be. But Friendship was too awkward, and sort of in a college film assignment kind of way. Additionally, I found that Tim Robinson’s character’s reactions in a couple of situations read as too big for the moment, and that was the final nail.

I can’t deny that my patience for awkwardness may need more work, as further exemplified by my recent initial reaction to Pugsley Addams in Wednesday Season 2 (2025). And, I may well be missing out. However, everything cannot be for everyone. As such, I’ll continue to lean on I Love You, Man (2009), The Hangover (2009) and The Best Man (1999) for comedies about male friendship.

Green Book (2018) isn’t a comedy, but it does showcase a truly beautiful friendship.

Have you watched Friendship? Am I missing out? And, which titles come to mind for you when thinking about films that focus on friendship among men?

Happy Film Loving,

G