Best F(r)iends: Volume 2 (2018)

I watched Best F(r)iends: Volume 1 last November and it turned out to be way better than anticipated. Don't get me wrong, it still is a bad movie, but it's not terrible and I've been waiting for Best F(r)iends: Volume 2 ever since as the first left me wanting more. 

This one picks up right where its predecessor left, and sees Jon (Greg Sestero) as he makes a run for it with Harvey's (Tommy Wiseau) ATM and his girlfriend, Traci (Kristen Stephenson Pino). On his journey across the Southwest to find someone to crack open the ATM, he encounters wild and crazy characters. In the meantime, there's something pursuing him to take Harvey's money back.

Just like Volume 1, Volume 2 too has an incredibly ridiculous plot that makes absolutely no sense. Only this time around it is so contrived, it's difficult if not impossible to understand what the hell is going on. It is not as compelling as its predecessor was and the ending, instead of having you excited for a possible sequel, has you afraid of a possible sequel. And the theme of the film, the value of loyalty and friendship, is poorly handled. 

The characters aren't particularly compelling either. The great thing about Volume 1 was Harvey, the eccentric, over-the-top character Sestero specifically wrote to match Tommy Wiseau's quirky personality. Unfortunately, Harvey doesn't have a lot of room in Volume 2 as it focuses mostly on Jon, his girlfriend and his girlfriend's uncle. Even the weird characters Jon encounters on his journey are given more attention than Harvey. And this movie really needed him as Wiseau's hilarious take on the role was the most enjoyable thing about the first film. It doesn't help either than Sestero not only has an uncompelling character but also gives a bland performance, which is fine when you are a supporting character but definitely not okay when you are the lead. As for the rest of the cast, the acting is amateurish to say the least, especially from Kristen Stephenson Pino, whose performance as Jon's girlfriend is painful to watch. 

Grindstone Entertainment Group, Lionsgate

The direction isn't particularly compelling either. While the first part had some interesting camera angles and drone shots, this one shares with its predecessor the dull, overlong takes, the wrong pacing and the quite terrible editing. Don't worry though, if you have seen Bohemian Rhapsody you've already seen the worst editing of 2018.

Best F(r)iends: Volume 1 (2017)

As you might know, I went from hating Tommy Wiseau's The Room to loving it. I also devoured Greg Sestero's book The Disaster Artists —and Franco's movie as well, but that's completely unrelated. So when I heard of Best F(r)iends: Volume 1, the first Wiseau-Sestero project in 15 years, I knew I would end up watching it. 

The film follows Jon (Greg Sestero), a drifter who stumbles upon Harvey (Tommy Wiseau), a quirky mortician. Harvey gives him a job and soon an unlikely partnership and friendship forms between the two men. Little does Harvey know that Jon is going to betray him.

I will not add anything else so not to spoil the film for you —just in case you're crazy enough to decide to watch it— but it's kinda The Room all over again. What I mean by it is that Sestero's character betrays Wiseau's this time around too, but the story is more complex than it looks like, it has a pretty tense ending that leaves you wanting more and, overall, it's a beautiful story about two lost souls, two sad people looking for human contact and relationships. 

The characters are kinda compelling as well. Greg Sestero wrote the character of Harvey specifically for Tommy Wiseau and I don't think he could have done anything smarter than that. Harvey is a quirky, eccentric and over-the-top man, he is coherent with Wiseau's personality and because of this, Wiseau does a wonderful job at depicting him. His performance isn't much better than that in The Room, but it's more than clear that he's having fun and that's enough to make you have fun —that and the unique way he delivers his lines. This guy was born to be a comedian in my opinion. Sestero gives a little amateurish and yet convincing performance as Jon, the homeless guy. The supporting characters and cast, on the other hand, are extremely uninteresting and boring.

Grindstone Entertainment Group, Lionsgate

Justin MacGregor's direction certainly isn't the best of the year but it isn't the worst either as it suits perfectly the material and the two leading actors. The pace could have been better and so the editing —some scenes are basically overly long shots that end up being dull—, but there are some unique camera angles and use of drones that are very interesting.

Would I suggest this film? It depends. If you enjoyed The Room, if you found it hilarious as I did from the second view, then, yes, watch it as it makes for a pretty weird and funny experience. If you hated The Room, if you are only into serious movies, then you can pass it.