Our Friend main backdrop
Our Friend main poster

Our Friend

Visit website

7.2/10 • 295

2019-09-042h 4m

DramaRomance

After learning that his terminally ill wife has six months to live, a man welcomes the support of his best friend who moves into their home to help out.

Directors
Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Editors
Colin Patton

Top Billed Cast

View Credits
  1. Dakota Johnson

    Dakota Johnson

    Nicole Teague

  2. Casey Affleck

    Casey Affleck

    Matthew Teague

  3. Jason Segel

    Jason Segel

    Dane Faucheux

  4. Cherry Jones

    Cherry Jones

    Faith Pruett

  5. Jake Owen

    Jake Owen

    Aaron

  6. Denée Benton

    Denée Benton

    Charlotte

  7. Gwendoline Christie

    Gwendoline Christie

    Teresa

  8. Reed Diamond

    Reed Diamond

    Peter

  9. Isabella Kai

    Isabella Kai

    Molly Teague

Reviews1

View Reviews
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots Avatar

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

Mar 9, 2021

3/10

2020 was a tough year and 2021 isn’t starting out much better, so it’s poor timing for a studio to release a tearjerker like “Our Friend.” Movies about terminal illness are never fun to watch, but this one is such a downer that it may serve as an unwanted depressant for even the most upbeat viewers. Based on an award-winning Esquire magazine article, the film tells the true story of journalist Matt Teague (Casey Affleck) and his actress wife Nicole (Dakota Johnson), who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Seeing his best friend coping with a dying wife and struggling to be a good father to his two young daughters (Violet McGraw, Isabella Kai), Dane (Jason Segel) puts his own life on hold and moves in with Matt and Nicole to support them through the roughest of times. It’s a true gesture of steadfast friendship, with Dane standing by the family until the end. If this sounds like a bittersweet heartwarming story of devotion, it (mostly) is. The story is told in non-linear segments that travel through time and give us a glimpse of how things developed and how they eventually ended. The most horrific parts of Teague’s article are omitted from the film, with director Gabriela Cowperthwaite choosing instead to go the inspirational route. The sugar-coating feels phony and insincere, and even with knockout performances from the three leads, it’s still a huge downer. It’s a given that Affleck is always powerful in roles like this, but Segel is the real surprise. He gives Dane a sadness and empathy that feels real and is unexpected for an actor who has never shown such depth. A brief supporting turn from Cherry Jones as a home hospice nurse is the most memorable performance, showing a beautiful (and realistic) sympathy towards her client. I suppose “Our Friend” would be a solid drama for those looking to empty an entire box of Kleenex, but it’s a tough sell in times like these. It’s a story of humanity and friendship that isn’t as uplifting as it sounds, but there’s still a glimmer of joy to be found. By: Louisa Moore

Media

  • Our Friend backdrop
  • Our Friend backdrop
  • Our Friend backdrop
  • Our Friend backdrop
  • Our Friend backdrop
  • Our Friend backdrop
  • Our Friend backdrop
  • Our Friend backdrop
  • Our Friend backdrop

Recommendations

  • Bright Lights, Big City main backdrop

    Bright Lights, Big City

    5.7

  • October Gale main backdrop

    October Gale

    5.0

  • Just Buried main backdrop

    Just Buried

    5.9

  • Good Girls Get High main backdrop

    Good Girls Get High

    5.3

  • All the World Is Sleeping main backdrop

    All the World Is Sleeping

    5.6

  • Soledad main backdrop

    Soledad

    6.8

  • Sickos main backdrop

    Sickos

    7.0

  • C'est magnifique ! main backdrop

    C'est magnifique !

    5.7

  • Everything’s Gonna Be Alright main backdrop

    Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

    7.2

  • Sex Ed main backdrop

    Sex Ed

    5.3

  • Penguin Bloom main backdrop

    Penguin Bloom

    6.9

  • Eungyo main backdrop

    Eungyo

    7.0

  • Xico's Journey main backdrop

    Xico's Journey

    6.6

  • Princess Cyd main backdrop

    Princess Cyd

    6.6

  • Swing Kids main backdrop

    Swing Kids

    6.7

  • Silk Road main backdrop

    Silk Road

    6.3

  • The White Helmets main backdrop

    The White Helmets

    7.4

  • Our Father main backdrop

    Our Father

    6.5

  • Game Change main backdrop

    Game Change

    6.9

  • The Half of It main backdrop

    The Half of It

    7.1

Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
friendshipsupportbased on true storyterminal illness