Our Friend Review: A Somber And Intimate Look At Friendship, Loss, And Bracing For The Inevitable
- naterichard98
- Feb 15, 2021
- 2 min read
DIRECTED BY: GABRIELA COWPERTHWAITE
STARRING: JASON SEGEL, DAKOTA JOHNSON, & CASEY AFFLECK RATED R FOR LANGUAGE LENGTH: 124 MINUTES
We've seen cancer movies time and time again, albeit often told in different ways; we've seen it told through the lense of a YA romance with The Fault In Our Stars, in the fashion of a buddy comedy in 50/50, and as a family-centric drama in the Oscar-winning Terms of Endearment. Though there's something different about Gabriela Cowperthwaite's new drama Our Friend, and what makes it so different is in result what makes it so special.
Our Friend is inspired by the true story of Matthew and Nicole Teague (played in the film by Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson) and their close friend Dane (Jason Segel). When Nicole is diagnosed with terminal cancer and given months to live, Dane moves in and helps his dear friends deal with their unfortunate circumstances and prepare for the tragic inevitability.
Segel is at his finest hour in Our Friend, while he's given his fair share of memorable performances in the past, but he shows a completely different side of himself in his performance and one can hope that this leads to Segel making a career comeback. His performance here along with his performance as author David Foster Wallace in 2015's The End of the Tour prove that Segel is more than just a comedic actor. Affleck and Johnson also shine in their performances and their dynamic feels authentic.
One of the only questionable aspects about Our Friend is the film's insistence on a non-linear structure. While Cowperthwaite does let the audience know when the film flashes back and flashes forward; the constant jumping back and forth occasionally takes the audience out of the movie and messes with the film's pacing. The film's first act also proves to move a bit too slow of a pace, but ultimately is able to find it's footing as the film progresses.
One of the most admirable qualities of the film is just how intimate and somber the film feels as a whole. Cowperthwaite and screenwriter Brad Ingelsby allows the audience to delve into the mindset of the protagonists and helps the viewers understand the thought-process and decisions they make through their melancholic journey. The film never feels artificial or fake nor does it ever feel emotionally manipulative.
Our Friend is not going to be an easy watch especially for those who have lost their loved-ones to cancer or similar illnesses. That being said it's still a deeply human and genuine film crafted with the best of intentions.
4/5 Stars
Our Friend is still playing in select theaters and is available to rent on premium-video-on-demand.
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