Weekend Event Planner

These are the 8 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

If you're attending a big event this weekend, chances are you'll be stopping by the American Airlines Center, as the venue is hosting three huge concerts. If those aren't on your agenda, you can also support a local film, catch one of two interesting new theater productions, see another big concert outdoors, or get arty with a dance production.

Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Monday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, August 3

USA Film Festival and the Texas Association of Motion Media Professionals present TexFest
TexFest is a community showcase screening series featuring works by Texas filmmakers. This installment honors two Dallas-based filmmakers, Matthew Stephen Tompkins and Jon Keeyes, and includes a screening of their new feature film, The Harrowing. The event takes place at Angelika Film Center in Dallas.

Lionel Richie in concert with Mariah Carey
At first glance, the pairing of Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey might seem odd, as Richie has long been a classics singer and Carey is still a current act. But Carey has released only one new album in the past eight years and hasn't had a bona fide hit since 2008, so the appeal for both singers now lies in their early work. They're performing a co-headlining concert at the American Airlines Center.

Theatre Three presents The Minotaur
A present-day version of a classic Greek myth, The Minotaur is a contemporary take on love, honor, and human connection. With refreshing originality and wit, it explores how people break out of history to shape new stories for themselves. The play, written by Anna Ziegler, runs through August 27.

Friday, August 4

Queen and Adam Lambert in concert
Brian May, Roger Taylor, and Adam Lambert are debuting a brand-new show that was specially designed and created for this outing. The high-energy concert, taking place at the American Airlines Center, brings Queen's history alive through favorite Queen hits such as “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” and “We Are The Champions.”

Cry Havoc Theater Company and Kitchen Dog Theater present The Great American Sideshow
The Great American Sideshow is a political allegory about the current state of affairs in the United States. Otto Barron is the new owner of The American Sideshow, and along with the carnival barker Narcissa he sets out to sow discord and wreak havoc, all in the name of making the sideshow great again. The play runs at Trinity River Arts Center through August 12.

Saturday, August 5

John Mayer in concert
For a singer who's never had a top 10 single in his career, John Mayer sure has had a lot of success. His high profile has as much to do with his work, which includes his 2017 album The Search for Everything, as it has with his string of starry relationships: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jessica Simpson, Minka Kelly, Jennifer Aniston, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift, to name a few. He plays with The Night Game at the American Airlines Center.

Sunday, August 6

Incubus in concert with Jimmy Eat World and Judah & the Lion
As is the case with a lot of bands, Incubus has never reached the heights that they did with their breakout album, 2000's Make Yourself, which featured songs like "Pardon Me" and "Drive." But they've maintained a steady presence on the alternative charts, including their latest album, 2017's 8. They play Starplex Pavilion with support from opening acts Jimmy Eat World and Judah & the Lion.

Majestic Theatre presents Wanderlust Dance Project
Wanderlust Dance Project is bringing together Dallas-Fort Worth's eclectic dance community for its second annual dance festival, featuring the best dancers and choreographers in town, with a sprinkle of Julliard talent. The event includes a chance for budding choreographers to exhibit their dances onstage in a professional atmosphere. The program takes place at the Majestic Theatre.

Adam Lambert performs with Queen at the American Airlines Center on August 4.

Photo by Neal Preston

Adam Lambert performs with Queen at the American Airlines Center on August 4.

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Movie Review

Dark comedy Friendship covers male bonding with copious cringing

Photo courtesy of A24

Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in Friendship.

Comedian Tim Robinson has gained a cult following thanks to series like Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave, in which his brand of cringe comedy is on full display. The former Saturday Night Live writer/performer has had a few small movie roles over the years, but he’s now getting his first starring role in the off-kilter Friendship.

Robinson plays Craig, a mild-mannered suburbanite with a wife, Tami (Kate Mara) and son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). Craig has a boring life that involves little more than going to his middle manager job while wearing the same clothes day after day, anticipating the next Marvel movie, and helping Tami out with her at-home floral business.

He gets a jolt of energy when Austin (Paul Rudd) moves into the neighborhood. The two men seem to hit it off, with Austin - a weatherman at a local TV channel - even taking Craig on a couple of impromptu adventures. But when Craig commits a couple of faux pas at a group gathering at Austin’s house, their bond starts to fracture.

Even though the film is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, it’s clear that Robinson had a big influence on the style of comedy it features. There are no big set pieces with a slew of jokes coming one after another. Instead, the film forces the audience to try to vibe with the very particular type of wavelength it’s giving off, one that could almost be called anti-comedy for the way the laughs come out of left field.

The 100-minute film is full of random comedic moments, like Steven kissing Tami on the lips, Craig being obsessed with his plain brown clothes, a group sing-along, and more. More often than not, it’s the way Craig reacts to both normal and abnormal situations that gets the laughs. The character is needy and oblivious, two traits that combine to make many of his actions cringeworthy.

Perhaps most importantly for this type of movie, there are many things in the story that go unexplained or don’t make sense. Seemingly crucial elements are brought up only to fade away just as quickly, while other parts that appeared to be throwaway sections get callbacks later in the film. DeYoung and Robinson are determined to keep the audience on their toes the entire time, never knowing what to expect next.

Robinson has the perfect face for a story like this, one that’s bland enough to blend into the background but memorable enough to sell the jokes. His demeanor is also excellent, never becoming too expressive, even when he gets angry. With long hair, a mustache, and a certain swagger, Rudd is a great complement to Robinson. Only in a film like this would an everyman like Rudd be considered the suave and cool one.

There will be some that will see Friendship and come away wondering what the hell they just watched. But anyone who goes in knowing that they’re about to witness a comedy that challenges their sensibilities will likely have a great time.

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Friendship is now playing in select theaters.

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