Weekend events planner

Here are the top 9 things to do in Houston this weekend

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the city is starting to recover with a weekend full of events, including several hurricane relief fundraisers, some amazing concerts, an NFL game opener, and a can't-miss culinary throwdown.

There's also an extended charity dining extravaganza and a blowout bar celebration, with an incredible deal on drinks. Read on for the nine best things to do in Houston this weekend.

For more options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar.

Dine out for a good cause
Thursday, September 7-Saturday, September 30
Houston Restaurant Weeks has been extended through September 30. A portion of the cost of each HRW menu goes to the Houston Food Bank. For the list of participating restaurants, head to the HRW website. (tickets: $20-$45 per HRW menu, per person)
Various locations

Shake up the camp scene
Thursday, September 7
Enjoy bites by local chefs and tunes by Max Flinn at the Camp Culinary Challenge: Taste of Texas, hosted by Camp For All Young Professionals at White Oak Music Hall. Funds raised go towards bringing campers with special needs to Camp For All. (VIP reception from 6-7 pm, main event from 7-10 pm; tickets: $65-$175 per person)
2915 N. Main St.; 713-686-5666

Music to our ears
Thursday, September 7
Head to the Thursday Night Concert series at Discovery Green for performances by Charlie Robison and opening band, Charlie and the Regrets. (7-9 pm; tickets: free cover with donations going to the Mayor's Relief Fund and Charlie Robison's Coastal Relief Fund)
1500 McKinney St.; 713-400-7336

The show will go on
Thursday, September 7
The Goo Goo Dolls hit the stage at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in support of their 2016 album, Boxes. They’re joined by former American Idol winner, Phillip Phillips. (7:30 pm; tickets: $19.50-$89.50 per person)
2005 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands; 281-363-3300

Hurricane relief concert
Friday, September 8
Apollo Chamber Players, in partnership with Musiqa Houston and Jazz Forever present: A Harvey Relief Concert, including a premiere by Houston-based composer Mark Buller, at Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH). All proceeds go the Greater Houston Community Foundation and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for hurricane relief efforts. (7-9 pm; tickets: pay what you will to support the aforementioned charities)
3400 Main St.; 713-521-4533

Miss Jackson
Saturday, September 9
Janet Jackson brings her State of the World tour to Toyota Center. The playlist boasts songs from Jackson's 2015 album, Unbreakable, career smash hits, and soon-to-be released tracks. (8 pm; tickets: $150 per person)
1510 Polk St; 713-758-7200

We are Texans
Sunday, September 10
The Jacksonville Jaguars go head-to-head against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in the season opener. (12 pm; tickets: $49-$400 per person)
NRG Pkwy; 832-667-1400

Cheers
Sunday, September 10
Downtown watering hole Public Services celebrates its third anniversary with 25 percent off all spirits. What’s more, you’ll also save on rare, large-format wines served by the glass. Feast on Taiwanese-style steam buns and dress to impress. The event features a Blade Runner/Cyberpunk theme; feel free to dress the part. (4 pm-2 am; tickets: free entry)
202 Travis St, Ste. 100, 713-516-8897

Hometown favorites
Sunday, September 10
ZZ Top plays at Smart Financial Centre as part of The Tonnage Tour. Post-Harvey, the concert has been converted to a benefit show, set to raise $100,000 for hurricane relief. (8 pm; tickets: $144-$250 per person)
8111 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land; 281-207-6278

Public Services celebrates its third anniversary.

Public Services/Facebook

Public Services celebrates its third anniversary.

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Movie Review

New movie Friendship pairs Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in a bizarre bromance

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, many things in the story 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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