The film was not particularly well received but I’ve always stood by The Cable Guy, released in 1996.  It was an excellent dark comedy starring Jim Carrey as a socially awkward cable TV installer who desperately tried to become best buddies with a customer played by Matthew Broderick.  There were many uncomfortable moments (in a good way) that tapped into something we can relate to – a non-reciprocal friendship.

That same concept is at the heart of this new movie from writer-director Andrew DeYoung (PEN15) which premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival.  It stars Tim Robinson (Saturday Night Live) as Craig Waterman, a run-of-the-mill guy with a wife (Mara) and teenage son (Grazer).  The film’s early scenes portray him as a dorky individual who struggles to build close connections with others.  His work colleagues steer clear, and his wife prefers the company of others.  Most evenings are spent sitting on the couch with zero plans.

Upon dropping misdirected mail to his new next-door neighbour, Craig strikes up a friendship with Austin Carmichael (Rudd) who has moved to town and taken up a lucrative role as a news weatherman.  They hang out for a bit, go on a few adventures, and it’s not long because Austin is inviting Craig to regular hangouts with other mates.  Craig obsessively relishes their time together but when Austin abruptly cuts the cord on their interactions, a confused Craig can’t take the “hint” and does whatever he can to remain part of Austin’s orbit.

Friendship gets the job done as a cringe-inducing comedy.  Robinson has created a weird, amusing protagonist who has good intentions but commits one social faux pas after the other.  From the way he speaks of Marvel movies, through to his oversharing at inappropriate times… Craig struggles to fit in.  Seeing his daily habits and mannerisms reminds me of the saying – “I dare not look and yet I cannot turn away.”  The film offers a plethora of unexpected gags which generate anxious laughter (at least based on the screening I attended).

I’ll concede DeYoung’s movie is a little “one note”.  It’s intended to be comedic, which it thrives at, but it’s hard to believe how Craig is so oblivious to his strange nature, how he’s so successful at work, and why his wife has stuck with him for so long.  A pinch more background information or a dash more nuance to Craig’s character could have enhanced the material further.  Awkward conversations are great but that’s not quite enough for the full 101-minute duration.

Worth seeing for Tim Robinson’s performance alone, Friendship is both dark and fun.