Feels like it’s been forever since we’ve seen Jason Segel and that’s just too long. For the longest he was most noted for his comedic roles, but over the last few years has been taking on a variety of dramatic roles as well. His latest film, Our Friend teams him up with Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson, but does it bring the heart of this story to effective life or does it need to be taken off life support?

 

Our Friend follows the inspiring and extraordinary true story of the Teague family – journalist Matt, his vibrant wife Nicole and their two young daughters – and how their lives are upended by Nicole’s heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal cancer. As Matt’s responsibilities as a caretaker and parent become increasingly overwhelming, the couple’s best friend Dane Faucheux offers to come and help out. As Dane puts his life on hold to stay with his friends, the impact of this life-altering decision proves greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined.

 

The subject matter alone lets you know going in that this will no doubt be a heavy movie. The story is simple but told in a creative way as it bounces around through the lives of these characters. They waste no time in getting you in on the focal point before it starts shifting through their stories. Everyone in the cast do a great job with both Affleck and Segel both having to deal with the life situation in their own ways. They have different issues of their own that is brought together with caring for the family and Nicole.

 

Dakota Johnson is great here as well having to not only bring the emotion, but also the physicality. As you might expect she transforms throughout the journey of her cancer in so many ways that is heartbreaking to watch especially if you have experienced it before, but helps that it is intercut with the varying different moments of their lives all together. Seeing the different effect it has on herself, her husband and her best friend offers up unique perspectives of life and emotions that make the film work.

 

This is a heavy movie that is moving, heartbreaking and loving in so many ways and one that you should check out. Filled with a great cast and powerful true story of love and loss its one to not miss.

 

Grab your copy of Our Friend available now on digital and DVD from Universal Home Entertainment.