Friendship Director Andrew DeYoung discusses the father of Craig and Tami’s child.

      Friendship, the first feature film by Andrew DeYoung, stands out as one of the most amusing and awkward films in recent years. If you subscribe to a particularly dark interpretation of the film, it becomes even more unsettling—and funnier.

      Caution: Spoilers for Friendship ahead.

      Now available on VOD following a successful theatrical release, the film features Tim Robinson as Craig Waterman, a suburban father who becomes infatuated with his cool new neighbor, Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd). Their friendship briefly rekindles Craig's relationship with his wife Tami (Kate Mara), with whom he has a teenage son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer).

      A subplot introduced in the opening scene reveals that Tami remains in contact with Devon (Josh Segarra), a firefighter whom she still refers to as "my ex," despite being married to Craig for 16 years.

      Craig's unease regarding Tami and Devon's closeness culminates at a party celebrating Tami's escape from an aqueduct, where she and Craig were separated. Throughout the night, Devon and his team searched for her, leading to a heartfelt toast from Devon.

      “When she was lost, I was like a caveman who lost his fire,” Devon remarks, before using her maiden name: “To Tami Pinto.”

      Craig half-heartedly protests: “Um, Tami Waterman. Actually, Tami Waterman. For 16 years, that’s my best friend.”

      The mention of "16 years" is significant, particularly if one considers the dark implications we, along with other viewers, gleaned from the film. During Devon's toast, he and Steven both put their arms around Tami, creating a family-like image. There’s even a resemblance between Devon and Steven.

      It’s worth noting that Steven is 16—the same duration that Tami and Craig have been married.

      We asked Andrew DeYoung during an interview for the MovieMaker podcast whether the suggestion is that Devon, not Craig, is Steven’s biological father. Perhaps Tami became pregnant by Devon more than 16 years ago, but married Craig due to a need to settle down quickly because Devon wasn't a viable option at that time.

      “Love that,” responded DeYoung, who wrote and directed Friendship. “You’re not the only one who’s mentioned that, and I find it fascinating when people say that because it adds an unintended layer.”

      Unintended?

      “It just kind of happened that way,” DeYoung explained. “And I enjoy how people can interpret it. I think it’s funny, and I appreciate that. I should acknowledge that or something.”

      We mentioned that what makes the toast scene humorous is that the potential similarity between Devon and Steven is evident only at certain moments—it could all be a figment of Craig’s imagination.

      “I never thought about it until people started bringing it up,” DeYoung admitted. “I think it’s funny. I like it, and, yeah, it would have been amusing if it had been intentional.”

      He added, “Sometimes the universe shines down on you.”

      While the film implies that Devon and Tami may still have feelings for each other, DeYoung believes Tami has no intention of cheating on Craig but might feel more drawn to Devon than she acknowledges.

      “I see it as she’s not trying to cheat at all. She just thinks it’s acceptable—maybe she’s kidding herself a bit—but she’s going to spend time with this person from her past who clearly gives her the attention she’s lacking in her primary relationship,” DeYoung clarified.

      He further suggested that Craig isn't fully present in the relationship, prompting Tami to seek her needs elsewhere.

      DeYoung praised Mara for adding depth to Tami that wasn’t initially present in the script.

      “I’m eager to work with her again. She grounds everything in such a believable manner. That’s why I cast her; I wanted this to be more than just a comedy. I wanted it to carry emotional weight, and she brings that to the table.

      “Honestly, I’m a man who tends to underwrite female characters, which I did in this script. I admitted that to her, and upon arriving on set, she infused such gravity into her role… She undergoes a significant transformation in a way I hadn’t anticipated.”

      One of Mara’s creative contributions was the idea for Tami to kiss her son, Steven, on the mouth.

      “It was her idea to incorporate that gesture, which I found very funny and indicative of her professionalism,” DeYoung recounted.

      Could the kiss imply that her son, in some perplexing way, reminds her of Devon?

      DeYoung chuckled.

      “Honestly, yes, maybe there’s an unconscious element there that she tapped into, which fuels this theory, and I love it. I might start claiming that was my idea,” he joked.

      You can listen to our complete conversation with Andrew DeYoung on Apple Podcasts or any platform where you find your podcasts, or right