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The Travel Companion

Play trailer The Travel Companion 2025 1h 31m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 11 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Simon (Tristan Turner) is an early 30s filmmaker living in New York City with his best friend and roommate, Bruce (Anthony Oberbeck), who works for an airline. As Bruce’s dedicated "travel companion," he gets to fly for free on standby anytime he wants -- an incredible asset for his unfinished, sprawling documentary about humanity, which he can't quite describe but hopes to find in the edit. After a lackluster film screening, Simon's life takes a turn when he befriends Beatrice (Naomi Asa), a fellow filmmaker, and invites her to join him and Bruce at a bar. Bruce and Beatrice hit it off and before long, Simon wakes to find Beatrice in his kitchen. As his roommate's budding relationship gets more serious, Simon begins to fear losing his coveted travel perks. With only two months left until Bruce can change the recipient of his flight benefits, Simon begins to compromise his friendship with Bruce in his pursuit of retaining the free flights. Meanwhile, Simon's jealousy of Beatrice's successful filmmaking career intensifies, and he gradually loses focus on his own creative project as this obsession takes over. Can Simon keep both the benefits and his friendship intact?

Critics Reviews

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Sebastian Zavala Kahn Cinencuentro An atypical coming-of-age story, centred on a guy who still behaves like a child and who has to learn to behave like a real adult, responsible for his own actions. [Full review in Spanish]. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 18, 2025 Full Review Matthew Passantino Big Picture Big Sound "The Travel Companion" is one of the most observant movies about friendship. Rated: 3/4 Jun 17, 2025 Full Review Peter Gray The AU Review The uncomfortable nature of The Travel Companion may prove too substantial for some and too triggering for others, but regardless of one’s reaction, Mallis and Wood have created something of worth in their commentary on the obligations of friendship. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 17, 2025 Full Review Chris Cassingham In Review Online [Anchored by] Turner and Oberbeck’s razor-sharp chemistry, which consistently buoys a film whose comedy of cringey social ineptitude and straight-guy lovability eventually gives way to heavier conflict. Jun 13, 2025 Full Review Sherin Nicole AWFJ.org With a quietly hilarious script full of truly embarrassing behavior...and performances immersed in realness, it’s like we’re watching the events firsthand—like the fascination of a one-man trainwreck. I have to give the filmmakers their applause. Jun 12, 2025 Full Review Natalia Keogan Filmmaker Magazine A commentary on the fragility of male ego and the hilarious indignities of making art in New York City, The Travel Companion is a prescient portrait of our current cultural tensions, emphasizing the struggles that [specifically] befall filmmakers. Jun 10, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Travis Wood

Director

Alex Mallis

Director

Tristan Turner

Simon

Anthony Oberbeck

Bruce

Naomi Asa

Beatrice

Dara Messinger

Actor
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The Travel Companion

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Movie Info

Synopsis Simon (Tristan Turner) is an early 30s filmmaker living in New York City with his best friend and roommate, Bruce (Anthony Oberbeck), who works for an airline. As Bruce’s dedicated "travel companion," he gets to fly for free on standby anytime he wants -- an incredible asset for his unfinished, sprawling documentary about humanity, which he can't quite describe but hopes to find in the edit. After a lackluster film screening, Simon's life takes a turn when he befriends Beatrice (Naomi Asa), a fellow filmmaker, and invites her to join him and Bruce at a bar. Bruce and Beatrice hit it off and before long, Simon wakes to find Beatrice in his kitchen. As his roommate's budding relationship gets more serious, Simon begins to fear losing his coveted travel perks. With only two months left until Bruce can change the recipient of his flight benefits, Simon begins to compromise his friendship with Bruce in his pursuit of retaining the free flights. Meanwhile, Simon's jealousy of Beatrice's successful filmmaking career intensifies, and he gradually loses focus on his own creative project as this obsession takes over. Can Simon keep both the benefits and his friendship intact?
Director
Travis Wood, Alex Mallis
Producer
Weston Auburn, Travis Wood, Alex Mallis
Screenwriter
Alex Mallis, Travis Wood, Weston Auburn
Production Co
Meerkat Media, BRIC TV, Art School Athletics
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 31m