Friendship

FRIENDSHIP is a 2024 comedy drama film written and directed by Andrew DeYoung in his directorial debut. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8th, 2024, as part of the festival's Midnight Madness program.

Suburban dad Craig falls hard for his charismatic new neighbor, as Craig’s attempts to make an adult male friend threaten to ruin both of their lives.

The cast includes Paul Rudd, Tim Robinson, Kate Mara, Jack Dylan Grazer, Josh Segarra, and Billy Bryk.

FRIENDSHIP made its debut in theaters May 2025, courtesy of A24.

I’m sure I sound like a broken record by now, but I will always make sure my ass is in a theater seat for opening day of any movie A24 slaps their good name on. Plus the excitement level is just that much higher when you add in the fact that one of my favorite comedic actors Paul Rudd is one of the stars of the film. Early feedback for FRIENDSHIP seemed to draw comparisons to a darker take on the film I Love You Man, which also starred Paul Rudd, and I was intrigued by this as I am a big fan of that movie as well.

First of all, I absolutely loved this movie. Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson are on fire here, and easily one of my favorite comedic tandems as of late. Paul Rudd is my guy, but I honestly wasn’t super familiar with Robinson before seeing this movie, and man let me just say he shot up my list for sure. Reading up on him it seems that his style is “cringe comedy” and to say he is a technician would be an understatement. Kate Mara is fantastic here as well, and I really liked Jack Dylan Glazer’s performance. FRIENDSHIP is absolutely hilarious, and even though I lost count of how many times I laughed-out-loud at the theater, I added to it by cracking up out of nowhere at home when I thought of a scene in the movie. I also saw the movie in a packed theater on opening day which was awesome, although a few times I was the only person laughing which is probably a red flag in terms of my sense of humor.

I am a huge fan of comedy films because at the end of the day we all need laughter in our lives, and what I really loved about FRIENDSHIP was just the unique blend of dark comedy and dry humor. Oftentimes I found myself laughing at nothing more than a certain look on the face of Tim Robinson’s character Craig, who seemed to be living a life straight out of an R-rated sitcom. Craig is the very impressionable “good guy” who finds himself very close to the edge thanks to personal issues and a demanding career. When he is thrust into a world he never could have imagined after meeting his new neighbor, his life will never be the same.

When the film was first announced I immediately assumed that the focus would be on this normal suburban dad who got sucked into a friendship that would ultimately derail his seemingly normal life. Now in some ways this is true, but when I watched the trailer it was obvious that the unhinged person was actually the normal guy all along. But what you soon figure out watching the film is that FRIENDSHIP is much more than initially meets the eye, and as they say it takes two to tango.

From a technical standpoint FRIENDSHIP is top-tier filmmaking and in many ways has a very arthouse feel to it which I loved. The film more often than not relies on a less-is-more approach with the camera work and editing, which allows the story and the characters the opportunity to take center stage. I had no idea who writer/director Andrew DeYoung was prior to seeing this film, but I am now certain this is a talented dude who just gets it. I also loved the soundtrack for the film as it added a ton to the overall feel.

Although the film is packed with cringeworthy moments thanks to some fantastic writing and next-level situational comedy, it was so much fun watching how the two main characters influenced each other leading to a wild and though-provoking climax. I loved the film from start to finish, but I will warn you that some people may have an issue with the end of the film as it will leave you wanting more. For me FRIENDSHIP is one of those films that creates a very engaging narrative and gives you a ton to think about, but by the end leaves viewers having to piece together the actual “ending” themselves.

Now I understand the I Love You Man comparisons, but FRIENDSHIP is also very different in the sense that it is as much about what is left unsaid. This is a movie that takes a different approach in terms of a traditional comedy, mainly because it attempts to connect with audiences on a deeper level instead of just tying things together in a neat little bow at the conclusion of the film. In many ways FRIENDSHIP is a character study focusing on the insecurities that plague us well into adulthood. On the surface it seems that Craig is the one with the problems who ropes his neighbor Austin into his tornado of bad decisions, but when you dig deeper you realize both men are equally damaged. Craig is navigating an identity crisis, and Austin is struggling with self-worth and what seems to be a mid-life crisis. Both men meet at a crossroads in their respective lives and careers, leading to a volatile yet hilarious and life-altering friendship.

THE VERDICT

A laugh-out-loud hilarious and irresistibly cringeworthy dark comedy featuring stellar performances from Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson, FRIENDSHIP is a unique take on the absurd complexities of male bonding during adulthood. All I can say is do not dismiss this as just another comedy because it really is so much more than that. I give writer and director Andrew DeYoung all of the credit in the world because this man really created something special with FRIENDSHIP, and going forward I will be sure to support any other projects he works on.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.2/10

FRIENDSHIP is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Final Destination Bloodlines

FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES is a 2025 horror thriller film directed by Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky from a screenplay by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor, from a story by Jon Watts, Guy Busick, and Lori Evans Taylor. It is based on characters created by Jeffrey Reddick. The film marks the 6th entry in the Final Destination franchise, and the first entry since 2011.

Plagued by a violent recurring nightmare, college student Stefanie heads home to track down the one person who might be able to break the cycle and save her family from the grisly demise that inevitably awaits them all.

The cast includes Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, with Brec Bassinger, and Tony Todd.

FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES made its debut in theaters May 16th, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

The FINAL DESTINATION film franchise is iconic, that is simply a fact that cannot be argued. The formula for the first film was absolutely ahead of its time which is a big reason why the franchise enjoyed a successful 11-year run that churned out five films. One thing I love about this franchise is the fact that each film offered something unique while still capturing the magic that made the original so great.

You could even argue that the original film isn’t the best film in the franchise, which is honestly something you could debate all day long with fans. For example, FINAL DESTINATION 2 hit especially hard because after that movie, I was never able to comfortably drive behind a truck hauling giant logs. I also have vivid memories heading to the theater to see FINAL DESTINATION 2 during a blizzard, and I swear I looked left right up and down probably a hundred times on my way to the theater.

There is something to be said about a movie that can stick with you like that. Now it’s been almost 15-years since the fifth film came out, and I honestly didn’t think that we would get another movie in this franchise. So when the marketing started to come out about a new movie, I was absolutely ecstatic. I was trying to keep my expectations in check because I am such a big fan, but on my way to the theater admittedly I was looking to be transported back to the good old days of movie watching.

FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES was absolutely fantastic! I mean, I can’t even begin to explain how many things they did to not the only appease hard-core fans of the franchise, but to also create something that is just standalone a great movie. FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES finds a way to go full circle in terms of the overall premise of the films, while also upping the anti-on production value, scale, And most importantly, some friggin’ awesome deaths.

I went back and re-watched the original film, and although it was certainly goofy in some ways, it was never really intentional, making the tone feel sort of off. I felt like as the franchise progressed, they started to gravitate towards that blend of horror and comedy making for a much more impactful experience. FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES is absolutely in the vein as it can be hilarious at times but can also have you gritting your teeth in suspense. I was honestly so uncomfortable at times knowing that something was about to happen, and that just speaks to how well they handled the sequences in this film.

I’m finding it difficult to go too in-depth without giving anything away, but the domino effect of the FINAL DESTINATION films is just on another level here. I mean, honestly I’m having a hard time finding many critiques of this film. I thought the acting was great all things considered in terms of the blend of humor and horror, I loved the soundtrack, and the special effects were absolutely amazing. Clocking in at just shy of 2-hours I felt like the film didn’t seem to waste a single minute and was edited to perfection, and I’m honestly having a hard time deciding on which one of the awesome deaths was my favorite.

Just touching a bit more on the overall story, to be honest I tried to avoid watching too much of the trailers just because I wanted to be surprised to see what direction they decided to go as they attempted to reboot the franchise. After seeing FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES, I honestly feel like they handled it perfectly as they found a way to stay true to the franchise while also breathing new life into a very loyal fanbase.

Seriously this movie was just so much damn fun and I want so badly to just talk about it, but I’ll stick with my guns and not spoil anything and hope that someone else I know will see it sooner than later. Even the final seconds of the film felt like a tribute to the franchise, which I absolutely loved. Plus speaking of tributes, legendary actor of Tony Todd was given the sendoff he rightfully deserved in this film. He will be missed.

THE VERDICT

A massively entertaining horror comedy that perfectly captures the magic of the original films, FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES is an incredible addition to an absolutely iconic franchise. If you consider yourself to be a fan of this franchise, you need to see this movie as soon as humanly possible. I can’t wait to add FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES to my 4K Blu-ray collection, and have my fingers crossed that it will include some great extras on there as well.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.9/10

FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Fight or Flight

FIGHT OR FLIGHT is a 2025 action comedy directed by James Madigan, from a screenplay by Brooks McLaren and D.J. Cotrona.

A mercenary (Josh Hartnett) takes on the job of tracking a high-value asset known only as The Ghost on an international flight. Realizing the plane is filled with assassins assigned to kill them both, the pair must work together in a fight for their lives.

The cast includes Josh Hartnett, Katee Sackhoff, Charithra Chandran, Julian Kostov, Marko Zaror, and Juju Chan Szeto.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT made its debut in theaters May 9th, courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.

With scripts getting recycled or remakes left and right movies often feel very familiar these days, and when I first saw the trailer for FIGHT OR FLIGHT I immediately thought this was 100% the plane version of the 2022 Brad Pitt action comedy thriller BULLET TRAIN (our full review and trailer here).

I will admit it still looked fun and I love me some Josh Hartnett, but I figured it would be a limited or VOD release anyway so I knew I would see it at some point. To my surprise FIGHT OR FLIGHT received a wide release showing that Hartnett still has some juice left, and I made sure to head over to the theater to see if it was worth an hour and a half of my precious time.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT does feel very familiar but I felt like director James Madigan and writers Brooks McLaren and D.J. Cotrona took the familiar concept and had fun with it. In many ways it felt like they watched BULLET TRAIN and did what they could to make a movie that was similar but still fun and engaging, and I actually really enjoyed it. Now this is more like the little brother as it does not have anywhere near the budget or star-studded cast, but they take advantage of what they have at their disposal.

There is no doubt in my mind that this movie is on Amazon Prime for $4.99 day one without Josh Hartnett because he is undoubtedly the primary draw for the film. Hartnett plays Lucas Reyes, a former Secret Service agent turned bleached blond alcoholic who has fallen on hard times with a target on his back, before he is given an opportunity to take on a mission that will clear his name.

Unfortunately for Reyes this mission is quite literally a death trap at 10,000 feet as he ends up on a flight full of contract killers gunning for the person he is tasked with taking into custody. He quickly realizes his predicament has left him with little options so he uses his resourcefulness and knack for successfully beating people to death to his advantage. Plus the plane was very well stocked with nips so that kept him going.

The premise is very straightforward, which was fine because Hartnett was the primary driver of the film anyway, as he serves up constant comic relief and is awesome in the stunt department. The action is pretty much non-stop once it gets going, and it seems to ramp up as the story progresses. FIGHT OR FLIGHT also included a few twists and turns which I thought was a nice touch.

As I pointed out Josh Hartnett is the primary draw for this film and for good reason because he delivers on all fronts. Hartnett recently starred in M. Night Shyamalan’s mystery thriller TRAP (our full review here), which seemed to be a bit of a career resurgence for the longtime actor. I mean the fact that he crushed it as a sociopathic serial killer and seamlessly shifted to play a badass former Secret Service agent is proof that my guy can still do it all.

I really liked Charithra Chandran in a strong supporting role, and I thought that she had great chemistry with Hartnett. Honestly the entire supporting cast was great, even though many of them only had about 20-seconds on-screen before Reyes sent them to the afterlife.

Similar to BULLET TRAIN, as bloody and violent as FIGHT OR FLIGHT can be it always has a goofy feel and never takes itself too seriously. I did feel like the tone of the film was a bit unbalanced at times, and I would like to have seen a bit more of a focus on Reyes’ backstory as it never seemed fully fleshed out.

The film chose to prioritize the action sequences over the story which did work out in the end as it was never boring, and some of the fight sequences were an absolute blast to experience. Plus it is worth noting I loved the final act when Hartnett took on a group of bad guys armed with a chainsaw. That was without a doubt the icing on the cake for me.

THE VERDICT

An engaging action comedy packed with creative fight sequences and fun characters, FIGHT OR FLIGHT may feel familiar but its never boring and Josh Hartnett on a rampage with a chainsaw is worth the price of admission alone. I didn’t expect a ton with this movie and I felt like it delivered more than enough making it easy for me to recommend seeing it in theaters.

“Who hired you? You’re not even sober.”

“I’m getting way closer than I’d like to be.” - Lucas Reyes

TED TAKES RATING - 7.3/10

FIGHT OR FLIGHT is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.