
The episode explores the themes of validation and character identities in the A24 film Friendship (2024).
We’ve hit the midpoint of our Identity season, which Dan has effectively turned into a curated gallery of “disenfranchised men,” and our latest target is the A24 cringe comedy masterclass, Friendship (2024.) We explore the desperate lengths someone will go to for a bit of validation and the uncomfortable gap between who we are and the character identities we perform for others. Introducing Craig Waterman, a colour-blind passive man who only wears Ocean View Dining trousers but comes alive when he meets Austin, played by Paul Rudd. What to expect from the episode: We explore why A24 continues to corner the market on gdang weird cinema. Sarah explains why the first ten minutes felt more like a horror movie than a comedy. Dan defends his specific niche for film choices featuring disenfranchised men. We analyse Paul Rudd’s Austin and decide if he’s a cool adventurer or if he’s ticking off a midlife crisis checklist. Unpacking why the speed bump is the funniest recurring motif in the history of cinema. A serious inquiry into whether licking a toad is a viable alternative to therapy for insecure people. We discuss the “Jimp” incident and why it proves that comedic delivery is the only…
Host: Dan
Organizations: A24
Books & works: Friendship (2024)
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