Friendship (2024) review

Florist Tami Waterman (Kate Mara), who's a cancer survivor, encourages her husband Craig (Tim Robinson) to "hang out" with their new next door neighbor (and TV weatherman) Austin (Paul Rudd) - Craig's initially hesitant (he'd rather see the latest Marvel movie) but once they  partake in "adventures" (picking mushrooms, exploring an aqueduct) a true bromance forms ... but after Craig sucker punches Austin while hanging out with a group of other follows, Austin no longer wants anything to do with him.  There has been discussion online regarding the so-called "Male Loneliness Epidemic" and this is intended to be a "send up" of that, except tonally it's very inconsistent, drifting from drama (over Tami's health and Craig's depression) to even a bit of horror (like Tami disappearing) to go along with the darker elements, which are hit-or-miss.  Rudd's spent decades working in comedies and proven his talents but here he's the straight man, so Robinson (whose Netflix show I Think You Should Leave... is exceptional) has to use his "socially clueless man-child" character for most of the chuckles.  A few bits work well - the Licking the Toad sequence is one of the best moments in the movies this year - yet it doesn't come together as a "complete story."  Some filmgoers claim they wet themselves and nearly collapsed from howling, so if it works in that way for you, be prepared to wash out your underthings.