Friendship - Tim Robinson's comedy pushes boundaries in acclaimed bromance

Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd's surreal buddy comedy Friendship has taken the online cinephile community by storm, with audiences passionately embracing its absurdist humor while debating just how far comedy can (and should) push into uncomfortable territory.

The A24 film—initially released in just 6 theaters before expanding—has generated the kind of enthusiastic response that suggests we're witnessing the birth of a future cult classic. Theater reports describe packed houses laughing uncontrollably, with many calling it the hardest they've laughed in years. "It's basically a 90-minute Tim Robinson sketch but somehow dialed up 110%. You get what you pay for and more," wrote one early viewer who caught it at TIFF's Midnight Madness screening.

What's fascinating is how the film blends Robinson's signature cringe comedy with something darker and more cinematic. Multiple commenters compared it to a twisted version of The Cable Guy or an absurdist take on A24's psychological thrillers. "All of the awkward absurdity is still there, but it's been laced with a heavy dose of 'unsettling'," one fan observed. "That feeling and the usual cringe play against each other in a lot of interesting ways."

The film's standout moments have already become quotable favorites. The drug trip scene at Subway ("I just ordered a sandwich! That frog ripped me off") appears to be the consensus highlight, with one viewer claiming it "might be the funniest one I've ever seen in a movie." Other frequently mentioned gems include the random Afghanistan line ("We never should have left Afghanistan"), Tim answering the door to police and explaining his wife is "in the sewers," and Connor O'Malley's scene-stealing three-minute appearance.

For all its absurdity, many viewers found surprising depth in the film's exploration of male friendship and loneliness. One thoughtful analysis suggested the film "is really interesting in how it talks about how lonely and surface level a lot of men are." The character of Craig "doesn't start this movie longing for a friend, he's just kind of floating through life, unsure how to react to his wife's cancer battle, ignoring her needs." This thematic undercurrent gave the comedy an unexpected resonance for many.

Surprisingly, even viewers unfamiliar with Robinson's work found themselves won over. "As someone who isn't a huge fan of Tim's comedy I found this to be absolutely hysterical," admitted one convert. "It makes me want to revisit ITYSL because it makes me feel like I misjudged it." Though a minority of viewers expressed frustration with the film's extreme cringe factor and loose plot structure, they were vastly outnumbered by enthusiastic supporters.

The overall sentiment around Friendship has been overwhelmingly positive, with the film earning particular praise for committing fully to its bizarre vision rather than softening its edges. Fans appreciated that despite Robinson's outlandish performance, the film never feels like a series of disconnected sketches—instead maintaining a cohesive (if twisted) narrative throughout. Multiple commenters suggested it deserves "to be in the pantheon of great comedies."

What makes Friendship so compelling is that it's seemingly not trying to please everyone—it's a singular comic vision that's resonating deeply with audiences starved for original, boundary-pushing comedies. As one viewer succinctly put it: "Deserves to be in the pantheon of great comedies in my opinion." In an era where theatrical comedies have become increasingly rare, Friendship feels like a welcome reminder of comedy's power to unite strangers in shared laughter—even if that laughter comes from deeply uncomfortable places. The film's box office performance in limited release suggests that Tim Robinson's unique brand of comedy might have a wider audience than anyone expected.