Writer-philosopher Elbert Hubbard wrote, “Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.” Each one of us has been saddled with the kind of buddy who tries too hard to be the fun one. You know, Mr. or Mrs. “C’mon, just have one drink!” We have all struggled through the dangerous thicket of a night out with such an overbearing pal. These are the types of people who drive us crazy, but who we care enough for to not hurt their feelings. Will Sterling and Alex Wall’s That Friend, makes something fresh, intoxicating, and quite humorous out of the mismatched-friends-on-a-road-trip movie.
This is not a Hollywood-styled series of over-the-top misadventures populated by bursts of uncomfortable comedy. Written by the directors, the screenplay certainly has its share of comedic mishaps and drug-fueled humor, but Sterling and Wall have something more important on their minds; character.
Josh Brener is Henry, a constantly annoyed everyman heading out for a Palm Springs trip with his fairly new girlfriend Penny (a very good Billie Lourd). Henry’s longtime friend Paul (the treasure that is Harvey Guillén) tags along and inserts himself into their every moment.
Guillén’s layered performance makes Paul an authentic representation of an enthusiastic personality that constantly overwhelms a good soul and honest heart. The character doesn’t recognize boundaries and may purposely breed chaos, but Paul is a kind man who wants to remain close and connected to his friend. Harvey Guillén does fine work. The role solidifies the actor’s place as one of the most interesting character actors working today. Guillén’s performances have always been driven by an undercurrent of truth and his work is no exception. That Friend contains some of the actor’s best moments to date.
Billie Lourd finally gets a role that allows her to get into an emotionally tiered character. Penny is a warm young woman at the precipice of life change. Her new out of state job will be a test for Henry and an awakening for their relationship. Lourd is the film’s calming presence, as her patient and natural turn breathes reality through even the most madcap moments.
As the picture traverses many supporting characters (introduced due to an accidental drug mishap), the screenplay never loses its heart. The comedic beats don’t reach for the stratosphere and there is nothing mean spirited about any of the characters. Henry is a ball of frustration and doubt who comes to realize he doesn’t have a strong grip on his life, but he cares for Paul and Paul truly loves his best friend. Directors Sterling and Wall don’t force angry confrontations on their characters and never allow Paul to be seen as insufferable. What the film wants viewers to understand is that sometimes, one’s exuberance and annoying tendencies just might be hiding anxieties that scare them. Patience is not always easy, but with those we love, sometimes it is an absolute necessity.
That Friend is a film rich in complexities, populated by characters who feel the need to question life before growing into it. Henry and Penny’s unexpected road trip guest will open up examinations of relationships, uncertain futures, and the strength of true friendship. We meet Paul and Henry at a point in their life where they are confronted with the very different follies of their lives. Both struggle with adulthood and question where their respective futures will lead them.
Many of us make mountains out of molehills when it comes to life’s problems. For Henry, it is about adjustment and learning not to live by assumptions. Paul has something more serious happening. His partying ways mask insecurities and worry that would be emotionally crippling were it not for the wild-man persona. As the film takes us along on their journey, we laugh at the naturalistic humor (born from well-drawn characters) and, by film’s end, Henry, Paul, and Penny have found their way into our hearts.
Will these characters learn to get by and make happy lives for themselves? One can hope. The struggle is real and it is in the screenplay’s relatable and touching honesty where That Friend finds a real truth.
That Friend
Written and Directed by Will Sterling & Alex Wall
Starring Harvey Guillén, Josh Brener, Billie Lourd, Retta, Neil Brown Jr., Lauren Lapkus
NR, 89 Minutes, Bolo Media, Straw Hut Media