Reel Review Mom

Let’s get this straight: Friendship, the deliciously awkward comedy from A24, starring Tim Robinson as socially inept dad Craig and Paul Rudd as his magnetic, mustachioed neighbor, Austin, is now streaming only on HBO/ Max as of September 5, 2025. That’s right—if you’re still roaming the barren wastelands of Netflix, Prime, Hulu, or Disney+ (LIKE ME), there’s literally nothing worth your eyeballs. Move on.

This is a film that turns the brutal struggle of friendship into peak cringe-comedy. Craig’s desperate need for male connection spirals into everything from piping mushrooms to secret tunnels, soap-stuffing, and a gun-toting standoff—all in service of staying in the “friend zone.” It’s weird, it’s wild, and it’s exactly what you didn’t know you needed.

The brilliance of Friendship lies in its razor-sharp script by debut feature director Andrew DeYoung, whose weirdness blends so well with Robinson’s trademark “I Think You Should Leave” absurdity. With Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Rudd (who personally requested his Austin character be renamed to avoid reminding us of Anchorman) rounding out the cast, the film delivers emotional depth wrapped in cringe comedy.

So, why is HBO/Max the only home for this gem? Thanks to an exclusive A24/Warner Bros Discovery “Pay-1” deal, Friendship blooms only on Max after its theatrical and digital release run.

Word to the wise: cancel your other subscriptions. Who needs a sea of generic, rehashed rom-coms or half-baked sci-fi when you can float in the singular, gloriously awkward reality of Friendship on HBO/Max? It’s the antidote to streaming ennui—and a reminder that sometimes, the best stories are the ones that make you squirm, then laugh, then wince, and finally—really feel.

The only drawback is I hate Kate Mara(whose in this), almost as much as I freaking hate Anna Kendrick or Jennifer Lopez (who are not in this)….Thank you Jesus for these small gifts….

Words to the wise: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime you are weeding yourselves out of the proverbial gene pool that is my money because of your crap content… Your greed is showing.