Richard Crouse

SYNOPSIS: In “Friendship,” a new cringe comedy now playing in theatres, Tim Robinson is Craig, an awkward guy who gets a taste of what it’s like to be included in a friend group when his cool neighbor invites him over for a beer. “I can see the future,” says Craig. “It’s full of pals helping pals and being a boss.” When that relationship sours, his entire life is turned upside down as he goes to extremes to recreate that warm, embracing feeling.

CAST: Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk. Written and directed by Andrew DeYoung.

REVIEW: According to a recent study men have 50% fewer close friendships than women. In the case of Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson), an awkward suburban family man with a disinterested wife (Kate Mara) who still meets up with her ex for coffee, that percentage is far smaller.

Craig is an odd dude. Guaranteed to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, he’s content to sit at home, watching television. When a package meant for new neighbor Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd) is delivered to Craig’s house by mistake, he drops it off to the right address. By way of saying thanks Austin invites him over for beers with the boys that night.

Craig has never met anyone quite like Austin. To Craig the weatherman at the local television station is almost impossibly cool. He plays in a punk rock band, has a collection of ancient weapons and is surrounded by good friends. He is, as the food critic Pascal, played by Ian Holm in “The Big Night,” might have labelled him, a “take a bite out of the ass of life” kind of guy.

Initially the pair hit it off. They go urban spelunking, and Craig is embraced by Austin’s very supportive circle of friends, who have a habit of sharing their feelings and singing away the blues. “I’m on the edge of life,” Craig says of his newfound, connected life,” and the view is gorgeous.”

But when their friendship sours, Craig is cut loose, desperate to feel the embrace of friendship once again.

“Friendship” is an awkward, but often funny comedy. A character study of a lonely guy, the success of the film is in its ability to mix the heartfelt reality of Craig’s desperation with Robinson’s heightened performance. He is, by times, needy, abrasive and unhinged, and while much of it is played for laughs, Robinson manages to inspire empathy.

The film’s final shot (NO SPOILERS HERE) follows some unforgivable, over-the-top behavior on Craig’s part, and yet, as we see him for the last time, there is a vulnerability and strange (OK, very strange) sweetness to the image.

“Friendship” is not your average awkward comedy. Adam Sandler and others have played angry, desperate characters, but Robinson takes a different approach. His take on Craig is merciless and he never sucks up to the audience. He’s an open wound, and while the circumstances surrounding him are often amusing, he plays it straight, which, brings a sense of absurdity that amps up the funny.

“Friendship” is an intense take on the loneliness epidemic that feels a bit scattershot in its execution but has enough heart to cut through the hysterics.