Our Friend

Our Friend

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8 / 10

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Overview

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.

Media

Our Friend | Trailer | In Theaters & On Demand 1/22

Cast

Director:

Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Writer:

Brad Ingelsby, Matthew Teague

Release Date:

2019-09-04

Run Time:

124m

Genres:

Keywords:

based on true story dramatic friendship melancholy nostalgic support terminal illness tragic

Financials and Popularity

Budget: Not Declared

Revenue: Not Declared

Vote Average: 7.2/10

Vote Count: 356 Votes

Movie Popularity: 1.8912

Spoken Languages: English

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 29 April 2026 at 7:20 pm

8 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10 THE SUMMARY Based on the powerful real-life Esquire article "The Friend," this is a tear-jerker that swaps out standard melodrama for a sincere look at platonic love. Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson star as Matt and Nicole, a couple whose lives are upended by Nicole’s terminal cancer diagnosis. Just as things start to fall apart, their best friend Dane (Jason Segel) moves in to help with the house and their two daughters. What starts as a short stay turns into a years-long commitment as Dane puts his own life on hold to become the family’s emotional anchor. It’s a raw, non-linear journey through grief that reminds you a good mate is worth their weight in gold. THE PROS Jason Segel is the absolute heart of the movie; he brings a softness and humor to Dane that makes his radical act of kindness feel totally honest and believable. Casey Affleck delivers his usual grounded intensity, perfectly capturing the quiet, exhausted frustration of a husband watching his world crumble. It’s an 8/10 because the film doesn't just focus on the tragedy; it highlights the small, funny moments and the "male softness" in Matt and Dane’s friendship that you rarely see on screen. The direction by Gabriela Cowperthwaite avoids being "misery porn," choosing instead to celebrate the bond that keeps the family afloat. The first part of the movie does a great job of jumping through time to show how these three became so intertwined, making the final emotional payoff feel deeply earned. THE CONS It earns an 8/10 because the non-linear structure can be a bit of a head-spin; the constant time-jumps sometimes break the flow of the story just as you're getting invested in a particular moment. The middle part can feel a bit sluggish, with some scenes of Nicole’s worsening condition being incredibly hard to watch and dragging on a little too long. It misses a higher mark because a few of the subplots—like Dane’s own personal struggles and a brief encounter in the desert—feel slightly disconnected from the main family dynamic. While it’s a beautiful story, it doesn't quite reach "epic status" because it sticks to a very intimate, small-scale narrative that follows a familiar "cancer drama" blueprint. THE VERDICT An 8/10. A gripping and deeply moving film that is a winner for anyone who doesn't mind a good cry. It’s a sincere tribute to the people who show up when things get ugly, and the performances from the central trio are top-tier. While it’s a heavy watch, it’s a total banger in terms of emotional honesty and one of the best portrayals of friendship in recent years. If you’ve got a pack of tissues and two hours to spare, it’s a decent shout for a quiet night in. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • True Story: The film is based on Matthew Teague’s award-winning article "The Friend: Love Is Not a Big Enough Word." The real-life Matt and Dane were heavily involved in the production to ensure the portrayal of Nicole’s battle remained as honest as possible.• Location Work: To ground the film in reality, it was shot on location in Fairhope, Alabama—the actual town where the Teague family lived. Many of the locals who knew the family even appeared as extras in the movie.• Heart Rate Spike: During the first scene where the leads all met, Jason Segel reportedly felt such an instant connection to the story that he broke down in tears, setting the tone for the "no bravado" atmosphere the director wanted on set. THE VIBE Like a warm hug in a cold hospital room. It smells of laundry detergent, fresh rain, and the metallic tang of a long winter afternoon.

Videos

Our Friend | Trailer | In Theaters & On Demand 1/22

Cast

Gwendoline Christie

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Our Friend

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 29 April 2026 at 8:20 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10
THE SUMMARY
Based on the powerful real-life Esquire article “The Friend,” this is a tear-jerker that swaps out standard melodrama for a sincere look at platonic love. Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson star as Matt and Nicole, a couple whose lives are upended by Nicole’s terminal cancer diagnosis. Just as things start to fall apart, their best friend Dane (Jason Segel) moves in to help with the house and their two daughters. What starts as a short stay turns into a years-long commitment as Dane puts his own life on hold to become the family’s emotional anchor. It’s a raw, non-linear journey through grief that reminds you a good mate is worth their weight in gold.
THE PROS
Jason Segel is the absolute heart of the movie; he brings a softness and humor to Dane that makes his radical act of kindness feel totally honest and believable. Casey Affleck delivers his usual grounded intensity, perfectly capturing the quiet, exhausted frustration of a husband watching his world crumble. It’s an 8/10 because the film doesn’t just focus on the tragedy; it highlights the small, funny moments and the “male softness” in Matt and Dane’s friendship that you rarely see on screen. The direction by Gabriela Cowperthwaite avoids being “misery porn,” choosing instead to celebrate the bond that keeps the family afloat. The first part of the movie does a great job of jumping through time to show how these three became so intertwined, making the final emotional payoff feel deeply earned.
THE CONS
It earns an 8/10 because the non-linear structure can be a bit of a head-spin; the constant time-jumps sometimes break the flow of the story just as you’re getting invested in a particular moment. The middle part can feel a bit sluggish, with some scenes of Nicole’s worsening condition being incredibly hard to watch and dragging on a little too long. It misses a higher mark because a few of the subplots—like Dane’s own personal struggles and a brief encounter in the desert—feel slightly disconnected from the main family dynamic. While it’s a beautiful story, it doesn’t quite reach “epic status” because it sticks to a very intimate, small-scale narrative that follows a familiar “cancer drama” blueprint.
THE VERDICT
An 8/10. A gripping and deeply moving film that is a winner for anyone who doesn’t mind a good cry. It’s a sincere tribute to the people who show up when things get ugly, and the performances from the central trio are top-tier. While it’s a heavy watch, it’s a total banger in terms of emotional honesty and one of the best portrayals of friendship in recent years. If you’ve got a pack of tissues and two hours to spare, it’s a decent shout for a quiet night in.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• True Story: The film is based on Matthew Teague’s award-winning article “The Friend: Love Is Not a Big Enough Word.” The real-life Matt and Dane were heavily involved in the production to ensure the portrayal of Nicole’s battle remained as honest as possible.
• Location Work: To ground the film in reality, it was shot on location in Fairhope, Alabama—the actual town where the Teague family lived. Many of the locals who knew the family even appeared as extras in the movie.
• Heart Rate Spike: During the first scene where the leads all met, Jason Segel reportedly felt such an instant connection to the story that he broke down in tears, setting the tone for the “no bravado” atmosphere the director wanted on set.
THE VIBE
Like a warm hug in a cold hospital room. It smells of laundry detergent, fresh rain, and the metallic tang of a long winter afternoon.

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