In brief, committed bursts, Tim Robinson is a niche master of squirm comedy, with an eagle eye (literally; he looks like a human eagle) for that sweet spot where annoyance meets arrogance, and Robinson’s embodiment of many of the worst traits of maladaptive male aggravation hits the heights. He’s a lot, but often hilarious on the Netflix sketch show “I Think You Should Leave.”
Now: How do you adapt that sort of persona for a full-length comedy, even one similarly committed to the fine, sadistic art of the squirm?
Judging from the dozens of awestruck raves thus far, “Friendship,” from writer-director Andrew DeYoung, has figured it out. The waves of love for the movie are sincere, and the movie has a high rewatch value for many. It’s this generation’s “What About Bob?” for the sons and grandsons of that 1991 comedy’s fan base.
Briefly: Robinson’s character, Craig Waterman, has reached middle age as the barely tolerable sum of his parts. His florist wife (Kate Mara, doing what she can with a malleable nothing of a character) has been cancer-free for a year but lives with a baseline dread of what may return. Meanwhile, she has lost whatever sexual and emotional interest she may have had with her terrifying dork of a husband. Calmly, she pegs him as a narcissist just like her father, though “Friendship” flirts, uncertainly, with more extreme corners of psychological trauma, especially as things escalate.
The movie’s an odd-couple friendship affair, as Craig meets and immediately idolizes the cool neighbor up the block. This man, a local TV weatherman, is played by Paul Rudd, and the casting of Rudd and Robinson ensures a built-in contrast. It’s Austin who first extends the hand of friendship, suggesting they hang out, first just the two of them, then in larger groups of men gathering at Austin’s place. It’s a whole new world for the social outcast Craig, whose teenage son (Jack Dylan Grazer) has long been his only peaceable interaction with another human male.
Where “Friendship” goes from there has its moments, and some interesting jagged edges. The lack of any real internal comic logic won’t be a problem for many, if they’re cringe-laughing enough. The best bits are the throwaways, such as Craig dealing with an overfull mug of coffee during a work meeting. But the movie’s oddly paced, and pretty meager in its payoffs.
Consider this a minority report. Check it out for yourself. The teaming of Robinson and Rudd periodically gets “Friendship” in gear. But the film’s primary comic impulse equates to the sound of gears grinding, in an attempt to shift from second to third.
“Friendship” — 2 stars (out of 4)
MPA rating: R (for language and some drug content)
Running time: 1:40
How to watch: Premieres in theaters May 16
Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.
