Can Two Best Friends Survive the Next Chapter?
MOVIE REVIEW
Adult Best Friends
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Genre: Comedy
Year Released: 2024, 2025
Runtime: 1h 30m
Director(s): Delaney Buffett
Writer(s): Delaney Buffett, Katie Corwin
Cast: Katie Corwin, Delaney Buffett, Zachary Quinto, Cazzie David, Mason Gooding, Casey Wilson, Owen Thiele, Benjamin Norris, Alexander Hodge, Carmen Christopher
Where To Watch: releasing on VOD February 28, 2025
RAVING REVIEW: Friendships built in childhood often feel unshakable, like an unspoken promise that no matter where life leads, that bond will remain the same. But time has a way of reshaping even the strongest connections. ADULT BEST FRIENDS takes a humorous yet heartfelt look at this inevitable evolution, capturing the nostalgia and the growing pains of a lifelong friendship on the verge of change. It’s a story that balances comedy with an honest core, making for an engaging and refreshingly self-aware film about what happens when childhood inseparability collides with the realities of adulthood.
As writer, director, and co-lead, Delaney Buffett crafts a deeply personal story alongside her real-life best friend, co-star, and co-writer, Katie Corwin. Their offscreen connection fuels the authenticity of their performances, making their on-screen friendship feel raw and lived-in. They aren’t just playing best friends; they embody the kind of relationship filled with shorthand conversations, inside jokes, and decades of understanding. This chemistry elevates the film beyond a typical buddy comedy, anchoring the humor in real emotional stakes.
At the center of the story is Katie, on the verge of a major life transition—her engagement to John, played by Mason Gooding. The problem? She knows Delaney, a fiercely independent free spirit, won’t take the news well. Instead of a simple conversation, Katie orchestrates a nostalgic road trip to the beach town of their childhood, hoping that a familiar setting will ease Delaney into the idea. What starts as a sentimental getaway quickly spirals into a chaotic, tension-filled misadventure where both women must confront how much they’ve changed.
Despite its emotional foundation, the film never loses its comedic energy. Buffett and Corwin’s writing leans into sharp discourse and well-timed awkwardness, delivering humor that feels authentic rather than forced. Zachary Quinto steals several scenes as Katie’s overly analytical brother, whose habit of misinterpreting therapy sessions leads to some of the film’s biggest laughs. Meanwhile, Cory Walls brings a dose of unpredictability as Dougie, the eccentric Airbnb host who, takes his role a little too seriously. These characters and other side players add levels of chaos that keep the story moving while reinforcing the central theme: no matter how much we plan for change, it never unfolds how we expect.
Buffett takes a grounded yet expressive approach to directing. The cinematography subtly reflects the divide between the two leads—Katie’s world is structured and stable, while Delaney’s life is captured in a looser, more impulsive style. The film succeeds in exploring friendships that exist in the space between past and present. ADULT BEST FRIENDS isn’t just about whether these two women can reconcile their differences but whether nostalgia alone is enough to sustain a relationship when life moves forward. There’s no moment of betrayal or dramatic fallout—just the realization that they may no longer fit in each other’s lives as they once did.
ADULT BEST FRIENDS is Buffett's debut as a filmmaker. Taking on multiple creative roles in a project this personal is no easy task, yet she navigates it well, delivering a film that is both relatable and consistently entertaining. The humor feels organic, and the emotion lands with sincerity rather than manipulation. The film understands the nuances of friendship—how it can shift, struggle, and even hurt without losing its foundation.
The film offers a hilarious and deeply personal look at how friendships evolve. It captures the messy, complicated, and often ridiculous moments of growing up. The film finds humor in heartbreak and beauty in change, ensuring that audiences walk away entertained and reflect on their friendships. With sharp writing, strong performances, and an honest emotional core, it proves that the best friendships never really leave us, even as we grow apart.
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