A Cautionary Tale of Dependency and Desire

Read Time:4 Minute, 13 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Travel Companion
–

Genre: Comedy, Drama
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 1h 31m
Director(s): Alex Mallis, Travis Wood
Writer(s): Weston Auburn, Alex Mallis, Travis Wood
Cast: Tristan Turner, Anthony Oberbeck, Naomi Asa, Joanna Arnow, Brit Fryer, Steven Phillips-Horst, Anil Joseph, Daryush Parsi, Dara Messinger, Scarlett Strasberg, Peter Davis
Where to Watch: shown at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival

RAVING REVIEW: In the bustling backdrop of New York City, where artistic dreams often clash with harsh realities, this indie film captures the essence of ambition, friendship, and the delicate balance between the two. This feature debut from directors Travis Wood and Alex Mallis offers a poignant look at the complexities of creative pursuits and personal relationships. Honestly, it was such a unique experience. I don’t think it would have worked had it been “perfect,” but it’s in the awkwardness that the film truly shines!

At the center of the story is Simon, portrayed by Tristan Turner, a documentary filmmaker in his early thirties. Living with his best friend Bruce, an airline employee played by Anthony Oberbeck, Simon enjoys the perk of free standby flights thanks to Bruce’s kindness—a benefit he uses to gather footage for his elusive documentary project. However, this convenience becomes a crutch, allowing Simon to avoid confronting stagnation in his creative journey.

The narrative turns when Simon introduces Bruce to Beatrice, a fellow filmmaker with a more established career, played by Naomi Asa. As Bruce and Beatrice's relationship blossoms, Simon grapples with feelings of jealousy and fear, particularly the prospect of losing his travel privileges if Bruce designates Beatrice as his new travel companion. This fear propels Simon into a spiral of insecurity, leading him to make choices that strain his friendship with Bruce and further derail his artistic pursuits.

The film explores the complexities of male friendship, particularly when intertwined with professional envy. Simon’s fear of losing his travel privileges is less about the logistics and more about the impending loss of a safety net that has allowed him to delay confronting his stasis. Turner's portrayal of Simon captures the character's vulnerability and desperation with nuance, avoiding caricature. Oberbeck's Bruce serves as a grounding presence, his stability highlighting Simon's volatility. Asa's Beatrice is both a catalyst for change and a mirror reflecting Simon's unacknowledged shortcomings.

Visually, the film employs a mix of bustling cityscapes and transient airport scenes to mirror Simon's internal conflict, caught between movement and inertia. The cinematography underscores the themes of transition and the fear of being left behind. The editing allows the story to unfold at a pace that reflects the protagonist's escalating anxiety.

Beyond the personal drama, the film offers a commentary on the precarious nature of creative professions. Simon’s struggle to define his documentary project and his envy of Beatrice's accomplishments reflect broader anxieties artists face, striving for recognition and purpose in an increasingly competitive landscape.

While effective in building tension, the narrative structure occasionally leans heavily on Simon's perspective, potentially limiting a fuller exploration of the supporting characters' motivations. As I mentioned, this is the film's identity, though Turner plays Simon with an awkward yet fully grounded portrayal. His confrontations, ability to always say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and inability to grasp what friendship means (genuinely) at the core allow the film to progress.

The film thoughtfully examines friendship, ambition, and self-discovery. It challenges viewers to consider the cost of clinging to comfort at the expense of growth and the complexities inherent in relationships where personal and professional lines blur. Through its authentic characters and insightful storytelling, it invites reflection on the ties that bind us and the individual journeys that define us.

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[photo courtesy of MEERKAT MEDIA, BRIC TV, ART SCHOOL ATHLETICS, TINYGIANT]

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