Best F(r)iends: Volume 1 Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A homeless guy and a weird mortician become business partners selling dead people’s gold teeth until greed, paranoia, and a suspicious girlfriend mess everything up.

🍿 Best F(r)iends: Volume 1: Detailed Plot Synopsis

An Unlikely Encounter

The story begins by introducing Jon Kortina, a homeless drifter struggling to survive. While wandering the streets, he repeatedly crosses paths with a mysterious hearse driver. This leads to a chance encounter where the driver, Harvey Lewis, a peculiar mortician, unexpectedly offers Jon a temporary job helping out at his mortuary.

A Strange Partnership Forms

Jon accepts Harvey’s offer and is taken in by the eccentric mortician. They form an unusual bond, with Harvey offering Jon guidance and philosophical musings. During his time at the mortuary, Jon discovers Harvey has been collecting gold teeth from the deceased. Seeing an opportunity, Jon proposes they go into business selling the gold on the black market.

The Business Flourishes, But Tensions Rise

Jon and Harvey embark on their illicit enterprise, finding unexpected success selling the gold teeth. They encounter shady figures in the process, including a gold buyer named Andrei. However, as their wealth grows, paranoia, greed, and mistrust begin to strain their fragile friendship, especially as Jon starts a relationship with a bartender named Traci.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Jon Kortina (Greg Sestero): A drifter taken in by a peculiar mortician, who becomes his business partner and eventually betrays him.
• Harvey Lewis (Tommy Wiseau): A quirky mortician who befriends a drifter and enters into an illegal business, eventually facing paranoia and betrayal.
• Traci Walton (Kristen StephensonPino): Jon’s manipulative girlfriend who encourages him to steal from Harvey and run away with the money.
• Andrei (Vince Jolivette): A contact who facilitates the illegal gold transactions for Jon and Harvey.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Harvey Lewis: “Oh hi Jon.” – A slightly altered echo of Tommy Wiseau’s famous line from ‘The Room’, used when Harvey greets Jon, serving as an inside joke for fans.
• Harvey Lewis: “Are you going to stand out there, like a Statue of Liberty?” – A distinctly unusual line delivered by Harvey when first encountering Jon outside his mortuary.
• Harvey Lewis: “You’re a homeless person with no soul and no friends.” – A harsh, bizarre insult Harvey delivers to Jon, showcasing his peculiar view of the world and others.
• Harvey Lewis: “The only thing that I can do is, uh, I can send a few oranges.” – A nonsensical and memorable line offered by Harvey in a moment where a more conventional solution would be expected.
• Harvey Lewis: “Who do you waaaant tooo beee, Mark?” – Harvey bizarrely questions Jon’s identity, referencing Sestero’s character from ‘The Room’ and adding another layer of meta-commentary.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $1,500,000
• Domestic Gross: $252,410
• Worldwide Gross: $290,064

💥 Best F(r)iends: Volume 1 Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so watching ‘Best F(r)iends Vol. 1’ was… an experience. Like, I went in knowing it involved the guys from ‘The Room’, but Greg Sestero actually wrote this, and it’s trying to be a real movie? It’s got this totally weird, moody vibe, like a low-budget David Lynch film mashed with a straight-to-DVD crime drama, but then Tommy Wiseau shows up being peak Tommy Wiseau, and you remember what you’re watching. Their dynamic is the heart of it, obviously. Greg is playing this quiet, down-on-his-luck drifter, and Tommy is this eccentric, unpredictable mortician. Seeing them together again, especially with Tommy in a role that feels written *for* him, is genuinely fascinating. There are moments where you’re scratching your head, and moments where you’re laughing, and moments where you’re genuinely unsure what’s going on – in the best possible way. I especially got a kick out of the scenes with the gold buyer guy; they were just so awkward and hilarious. The plot gets pretty twisty with the gold teeth scheme and the girlfriend adding tension. It’s messy, yes, but it’s never boring. It definitely left me wanting to see Volume 2, just to know where this bizarre train wreck/masterpiece was going next. If you’re a fan of the ‘Room’ universe or just love truly unique, unconventional cinema, you gotta check this out.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero”
  • “Viewers who appreciate cult films and ‘so bad it’s good’ cinema”
  • “Those interested in the story behind ‘The Room’ and ‘The Disaster Artist'”
  • “People looking for unique, experimental, or unpredictable movies”
  • “Fans of dark comedies or strange neo-noir thrillers”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes (death, mortuary work)”
  • “Criminal activity (theft, black market)”
  • “Betrayal and paranoia”
  • “Suggestive situations (mentioned in reviews, related to gold buyer)”
  • “Violence (depicted in the climax)”
  • “Implied suicide (staged scene in the plot)”
  • “Some viewers may find the pacing slow or the content confusing/bizarre.”

Professional Reviews

• User Review (Synthesized): “Stepping into ‘Best F(r)iends: Volume 1’ felt like a plunge into delightful madness. It’s a bizarre, often hilarious, and unexpectedly compelling look at an unlikely friendship navigating shady deals. While not conventionally polished, the film’s unique tone and the magnetic, utterly strange chemistry between Sestero and Wiseau make it an unforgettable experience. You won’t know what hit you, but you’ll likely be entertained.
• User Review (Synthesized): “This film is a true enigma, attempting a neo-noir thriller with the distinct ‘Room’ flavor. While Greg Sestero shows potential as a storyteller, the execution is wildly uneven. The editing drags, some scenes feel unnecessary, and the soundtrack placement is often jarring. Tommy Wiseau is doing his ‘Tommy’ thing, which fans will either love or find monotonous. It’s a fascinating misfire.
• User Review (Synthesized): “Forget expectations based on ‘The Room’. ‘Best F(r)iends’ crafts a genuinely strange, sometimes dark, but surprisingly coherent narrative about loyalty and betrayal. Wiseau is perfectly cast in a role that leans into his unique persona, and Sestero holds his own. It might be amateurish in spots, but its sheer originality and the central dynamic keep you hooked until the cliffhanger ending.

Audience Reactions

The weird, unpredictable chemistry between Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero is the main draw.: Many viewers found it surprisingly engaging despite its flaws, appreciating Greg Sestero’s attempt at a more serious story and Tommy Wiseau’s perfectly suited role. The unique, bizarre tone and unintentional humor were frequently praised.

Fans of ‘The Room’ enjoyed the reunion and subtle references, though some wanted more ‘so bad it’s good’ moments.: The film’s originality and difference from ‘The Room’ were noted, with some appreciating its attempt at a neo-noir style, while others found it too slow or pretentious compared to the chaotic energy of their previous collaboration.

The plot, while sometimes convoluted, managed to keep many viewers curious.: The story about the gold teeth business and the developing paranoia was interesting, even if the execution (editing, pacing, some acting) was uneven. The cliffhanger ending left many anticipating Volume 2.

Overall Consensus: A bizarre, unique, and often unintentionally hilarious neo-noir drama that leverages the cult status and strange chemistry of Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero. While divisive in quality, it’s considered a fascinating and entertaining experience for fans of their work and unconventional cinema.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on a real-life road trip Greg Sestero took with Tommy Wiseau in 2003, during which Wiseau became paranoid Sestero was trying to kill him.”
• “Greg Sestero wrote the script for the film, his debut screenplay, reportedly in just a few days, inspired by the bizarre road trip memory and a cannabis edible.”
• “Tommy Wiseau’s character, Harvey Lewis, was specifically written by Sestero to fit Wiseau’s unique personality and acting style, aiming to give him a role that suited him.”
• “The film was conceived as a two-volume story, with Volume 1 ending on a cliffhanger leading into Volume 2.”
• “The score for the film was composed by Daniel Platzman, the drummer for the band Imagine Dragons.”

🖥️ How to Watch Best F(r)iends: Volume 1?

Finding where to watch ‘Best F(r)iends: Volume 1’ can vary depending on your location and current availability. The film had a limited theatrical release. For streaming, check major platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, Vudu, or your local streaming services, as availability can change. It may also be available for digital purchase or rental on these platforms. For the most up-to-date options, it’s recommended to check a movie search engine or aggregator service.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Best F(r)iends: Volume 1, you might like these similar films:

• The Room (2003): The quintessential comparison, featuring the same lead actors and sharing a unique, often unintentionally bizarre tone that has garnered a massive cult following.
• The Disaster Artist (2017): Explores the bizarre friendship between Sestero and Wiseau and the making of ‘The Room’, providing essential context for understanding their dynamic in ‘Best F(r)iends’.
• Mulholland Drive (2001): Shares elements of neo-noir, a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere, peculiar characters, and a non-linear or difficult-to-follow narrative that has led to intense analysis and debate.
• Fateful Findings (2013): Another film known for its highly unconventional plot, dialogue, and filmmaking style from an independent director with a significant cult following for similar reasons as Wiseau.
• A Simple Plan (1998): Focuses on ordinary people drawn into an unexpected crime involving ill-gotten gains, where paranoia and betrayal test their relationships, echoing the central themes of the film.

🛒 Best F(r)iends: Volume 1 Related Products

• Best F(r)iends: Volume 1 & 2 Blu-ray Set: Own the complete two-volume saga that reunites Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero on screen. This set includes both films, offering the full, wild ride of their bizarre mortician and drifter adventure.
• The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made: Greg Sestero’s hilarious and insightful book detailing the making of ‘The Room’ and his complex relationship with Tommy Wiseau. The inspiration for the acclaimed film adaptation.
• Tommy Wiseau ‘Oh Hi Mark’ T-Shirt: Show your appreciation for the legendary cult figure with iconic merchandise featuring one of his most famous lines.
• The Room Blu-ray: The original ‘Citizen Kane of bad movies’. Experience the film that launched Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero into cult stardom.

🎧 Soundtrack

Best F(r)iends: Volume 1 features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Holy Night” – performed by Nice Legs

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Best F(r)iends – Doug Reviews

Curious what a seasoned movie reviewer like Doug Walker (Channel Awesome) made of the wild reunion of Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero in Best F(r)iends? Give this a watch to get a critic’s take on their latest collaboration; it’s quite the breakdown!

✨ Rate