Zachary Quinto Steals The Show In Sometimes Funny Comedy That Loses Its Way

There have been a slew of films tackling best friendship as a core relationship in one’s life, and how a big change can test its strength. Babes did this exceptionally well, mixing genuine comedy with a heartfelt storyline. Adult Best Friends lives in that same category, following Katie (Katie Corwin, who co-wrote the script) and best friend Delaney (Delaney Buffett, who co-wrote and directed the film) as they navigate Katie’s engagement to John (the Scream franchise’s Mason Gooding) and what that means for their friendship moving forward.

Adult Best Friends certainly has its heart in the right place and it can even be quite funny and lovely as it navigates the characters’ friendship and its evolution, but it’s also overstuffed with unnecessary characters and subplots that don’t add anything to the core relationship beyond distracting it from being deeper. The ending makes up for a lackluster middle, which drags on as Kate and Delaney meet a group of guys in the midst of their friend’s bachelor party.

Adult Best Friends Finds Its Strength In The Cast’s Chemistry

Buffett and Corwin are excellent together, there’s no doubt about that. Their ability to play off each other brings us into their world, and the level of depth their friendship has is something relatable. Adult Best Friends ponders what happens to a friendship when one of their upcoming nuptials threatens to derail it. It’s a question that other movies and a plethora of essays have pondered, especially as we try to move away from the expectation that one’s spouse should fulfill the other’s every need.

As I watched Delaney and Rachel interact, it wasn’t hard to buy their friendship; they’re very different people, with different interests who go about life in their own way, but that doesn’t prevent them from remaining close. Adult Best Friends highlights these differences, with the message being that relationships do change, but it doesn’t mean they have to end; Rachel and Delaney’s friendship grows out of their central conflict, and the film highlights both their feelings about the direction their friendship is going and the fear that can bubble to the surface over such a big announcement.

Corwin and Buffett bring a lot to the table. Corwin is charming and has great reactions, sometimes even second-hand embarrassment and awkwardness, while Buffett has the I-hate-everyone-but-not-really attitude going on that makes Delaney simultaneously frustrating and lovable. I could empathize with both characters, and their chemistry is so believable that you’ll want to root for them to stay in each other’s lives.

Adult Best Friends Is Fun & Funny

Even though a lengthy middle section nearly derails the initial buildup

The first third of the film is very funny. There are plenty of humorous moments, from Delaney’s constantly annoyed roommate (Cazzie David) to Katie’s brother (Zachary Quinto) and his love of dishing out second-hand therapy advice. Adult Best Friends’ ending is also a mixture of sentimental comedy that touches the heart while chuckling at some of the ridiculousness. The story gets its point across without getting stale or

For some reason, the film takes a bit of a detour from focusing on Katie and Delaney’s friendship in the middle. It’s jarring and goes on for far too long. It doesn’t particularly serve the narrative directly, and that wouldn’t be much of an issue if there had at least been some movement on Katie and Delaney’s friendship. What we get is a tightly wound Airbnb-esque host, and a group of guys whose situation is perhaps meant to mirror the main characters’, but winds up falling flat.

It’s not that some of these scenes aren’t fun, but the schtick stretches out longer than necessary. By the time it ends and Katie and Delaney’s conflict has reached its breaking point, I wondered why the group was included so much to begin with. Adult Best Friends is only 82 minutes long, too short a time to be taken over by a subplot that quickly loses steam. It also takes away from Katie and Delaney’s friendship, and it’s not like their conversations with the other characters do much in the way of developing them individually, either.

Aside from that frustrating detour, Adult Best Friends has its moments. Buffett and Corwin tie up the story nicely, with a satisfying conclusion that showcases the strength of the characters’ bond and the importance of welcoming such a change when it’s done together. The film’s ending has hints of Bridesmaids in it, though it certainly stands on its own. Adult Best Friends’ merits outweigh its weaknesses, and it makes me interested to see what Buffett and Corwin might come up with next.

Adult Best Friends premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival

Pros

• Delaney Buffett and Katie Corwin have great onscreen chemistry, making their friendship believable
• The film has its genuine laughs, though they’re not consistent
• Zachary Quinto is a scene-stealer

Cons

• The film’s middle threatens to derail the entire film because it goes on for too long
• This detour also fails to add any depth to the film