Our Friend

There are a lot of nice people doing nice things in Our Friend, which conveys a worthwhile message about adult codependency while examining the shifting nature of contemporary family structures and parental responsibilities.

However, by being too nice, this well-acted drama about a most unusual third wheel never maximizes either the inspirational or the tear-jerking potential of its true-life source material.

The story centers on Nicole Teague (Dakota Johnson), a theater actress living in small-town Alabama with her fledgling journalist husband, Matthew (Casey Affleck), and their two daughters.

Their lives are thrown into a tailspin when Nicole is diagnosed with terminal cancer. As she tries to handle the situation gracefully and Matthew struggles to cope, their mutual friend Dane (Jason Segel) puts his life on hold to offer full-time support. He moves into the spare room, becoming a third parent and an emotional anchor.

Dane is vague whenever his motives are questioned, perhaps because he’s unsure himself. Is he misunderstood, mentally troubled, or haunted by unresolved romantic feelings? “I just feel like I’m supposed to be there,” he reasons.

From there, flashbacks reveal highs and lows for the trio, including marital strife, career hurdles, and Dane’s oddly constant presence, for better and worse.

The screenplay by Brad Ingelsby (The Way Back), based on a memoir by Matthew Teague that appeared in Esquire magazine, generates some intriguing character dynamics yet lacks deeper texture or emotional weight.

The bigger problem lies in the jumbled narrative structure, which feels like an emotionally calculated gimmick that winds up creating distance rather than intimacy for moviegoers seeking an emotional entry point. It’s annoying to be reminded with the introduction of each chronologically shuffled chapter where we are in relation to “the diagnosis.”

As directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Megan Leavey), the film manages some scattered moments of genuine poignancy, such as a lovely montage set to Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California.”

With all three actors playing against type, the performances help the film rise above its formulaic trappings. They generate sympathy for these flawed characters and their shared plight.

Paying tribute to the value of platonic adult friendships, Our Friend chronicles relationship ebbs and flows with tenderness and sincerity. Still, while straining to make a deeper and more profound impact, it takes too many narrative shortcuts.

Rated R, 124 minutes.