Written and directed by Nuk Suwanchote, based on the story by Dan Martin, an imaginary friend sets out with a goal to bring happiness to his child, only to discover his child is a 90 year old man. Starring: Jason Faunt, Tom Skerritt, Jamie Petitto, Kris Flink and Ben Andrews.
We’ve seen a rather sporadic uptake in films exploring imaginary friends in recent years and An Old Friend is here to join the pack but with a twist. The story finds a new angle to approach familiar territory, exploring the idea of ageing and deteriorating minds regressing to childhood. It also nicely touches upon how children view their parents, often with a glamourised, hero lens. It’s very family friendly but does also manage to hold onto a good sincerity.
A lot of that comes from adding in Kris Flink who plays William’s (Tom Skerritt) daughter, her care and concern for him helps to keep the film grounded. While it also plays with the imaginary, stepping in and out of reality, particularly with a fun use of animation, that feels slightly reminiscent of Netflix’s recent original feature, The Imaginary. The tone hits upon a lot of sentimental, almost pantomime-esque ground but it never becomes sickly.
Rooting the story in an atmosphere that’s traditionally sweet and classically American helps it to dip into the corny side of things without being overpowered by it. Especially with the performance from Jason Faunt, it’s very bouncy and positive but is layered with genuine care and Calvin’s desire to help William find a peace and happiness. While Skerritt’s silent stubbornness and struggle makes Calvin really work to crack that hard exterior. Jamie Petitto also adds a nice extra dose of comedy into the mix, with sarcasm and apathy, helping the film to keep a balance to its tone.
An Old Friend is a sweet and fresh take on the role of imaginary friends. Jason Faunt fills the atmosphere with a wholesome optimism and generosity. Nuk Suwanchote does a great job of creating a highly sentimental atmosphere to match but also holds onto a sincerity. At its heart, there’s a touching message about the power of positive memories and using our imagination.
FilmCarnage.com 