Taking a familiar concept and flipping it on its head helps make a relatable comedy into a hilarious one. Such is the case with debut co-directors and co-writers Will Sterling and Alex Wall, whose side-splitting That Friend adds some much-needed lightness to 2026’s Tribeca lineup. Collecting a wonderful ensemble that includes What We Do in the Shadows highlight Harvey Guillen and earmuff-toting Scream Queens starlet Billie Lourd, the film finds unexpected heart in its neverending cavalcade of ridiculous drug-fueled scenarios.
At one point, doesn’t everyone have That Friend? You know the one: parties a little too hard, pushes you to have just one drink that then evolves into an all night bender, rattles off the wildest things at completely inappropriate times. For Henry (Josh Brener) that friend is Paul (Harvey Guillen), a brash, overly raunchy bestie that he has tolerated for years. Henry’s girlfriend, Penny (Billie Lourd) is about to meet Paul for the very first time—what could possibly go wrong?
It turns out the answer is a whole hell of a lot, at least as far as Paul is concerned. Despite initially road tripping with Henry and Penny on their way to Palm Springs, Paul’s plans take a sharp turn when his Joshua Tree-bound friend group bails on picking him up. Essentially forcing their hand, Paul ends up as a third wheel for Henry and Penny. He brings along a pack of cigarettes dubbed the “Magical Mystery Tour,” secretly lacing each with different drugs including molly, meth, and salvia. The issue here: Paul does not tell anyone until after Penny has already puffed her first smoke. She offers up a stick from the pack to a Gen Z traveler, urging him to take the rest of it to a bonfire so he can make some new friends.
Naturally, lacing countless people with drugs against their will wasn’t on Paul’s agenda. The trio follow the path of Spencer (Miles Gutierrez-Riley), blazing their way across a desert landscape and encountering ridiculous characters along the way. At the same time, Penny’s impending potential job, one that would require the couple relocating to Miami, looms over their relationship. Lourd and Brener are great, but Guillen emerges as the flamboyant standout performance. He pushes so many buttons, accidental or not, that his excessive muchness becomes endearing. In the same token, Paul as a character could easily come across as incredibly annoying if you aren’t on this movie’s singular wavelength.
Despite being a feature debut, Alex Wall has an impressive control over comedic timing and what actually works for pacing and flow. The characters have depth beyond just simple comedic caricature. Guillen and the ensemble do great work in building out their respective personalities in these unique archetypes. The ending does feel slightly undercooked, having built to a certain expectation that can leave some dissatisfaction in the mouths of viewers. However, that is a small caveat considering the strengths of what comes before. Ultimately, That Friend is a laugh-out-loud quirky comedy. Be warned: it might accidentally dose you with a serious case of the giggles.
That Friend debuted at 2026’s Tribeca Festival.
