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“The Travel Companion” Film Details

• Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 31 Minutes
• Date Seen: June 6, 2025 (Film Festival – Tribeca Film Festival)

• Released On: In Theaters
• Public Release Date: June 5, 2025 (Tribeca Film Festival)
• Director(s): Alex Mallis, Travis Wood
• Writer(s): Weston Auburn, Alex Mallis, Travis Wood
• Genre(s): Comedy, Drama
• Rating: Not Rated

Summary

Simon is a filmmaker, with a focus on documentaries, who utilizes his roommate, and best friend Bruce’s travel companion perk to travel across the United States, and to Europe. However, with Bruce meeting Beatrice, through Simon, Simon finds the lifeline to his work threatened, and he isn’t subtle about how much he wants and needs this agreement with Bruce to continue, despite Bruce now being in a relationship.

Cast and Characters

Simon (Tristan Turner)

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• Character Summary: Simon is a documentarian who, by day, films for a local advertising agency, which puts ads on cabs. However, he is hoping to garner interest with his latest work, years in the making, with the help of Bruce’s travel companion benefit.

Bruce (Anthony Oberbeck)

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• Character Summary: Bruce has been Simon’s friend since the 3^rd grade, and because of this, they are close. However, while close enough to be roommates, Bruce has the habit of ghosting when in a relationship, and between working all day and giving the rest of his time to Beatrice, it has put a strain on his relationship with Simon, especially since Simon is getting far more out of the friendship than Bruce.

Beatrice (Naomi Asa)

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• Character Summary: A fellow filmmaker, Beatrice seems to be getting traction after the premiere of her latest short, and in some ways, while Beatrice is friendly and collaborative towards Simon, there is clearly some jealousy. But, despite that, Beatrice initially tries to be peaceful until she just can’t take it anymore.

Why Is “The Travel Companion” Not Rated?

• Dialog:
  • Cursing: Mild
• Miscellaneous:
  • Drinking: Yes

Links

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• Official Site Link

Review and Commentary

On The Fence

Simon Is Only Polarizing Enough To Get A Moderate Reaction [72/100]

Eliciting a reaction from the audience is essential for a film, and while most aim for likability, many also aim to evoke a love-to-hate relationship with a character. For some, Simon may fit the bill, but for us, Simon was more like a mosquito or fly that you know is in another room but isn’t actively annoying you. To better explain, Simon’s constant pursuit to solidify another year of being Bruce’s travel companion is understandable, but the way he goes about it is annoying. Add in that we don’t learn anything endearing about Simon to balance him out, and it only increases you rolling your eyes when he acts selfishly.

Yet, at his core, Simon doesn’t seem like a bad person. He exists in this almost middle ground, which neutralizes having any sort of strong feelings. He just exists and wants his existence to be more notable, and in many ways, with you focusing on his life, his unfulfilling day job, there should be something there for Simon. But, after a certain point, like the fly or mosquito, he is something who may make some noise, but you put up with it.

You May Find Yourself Wishing You Got More Of Beatrice [79/100]

Part of what makes Simon frustrating is that he doesn’t have a life. He is a documentarian, focused on a subject that doesn’t inspire the audience’s interest. So when it comes to Beatrice, who is also a filmmaker, but further along in her career, and then her relationship with Bruce, you feel constantly distracted by what’s going on over there, but are stuck with Simon.

For example, Beatrice, when accused of being a nepo baby, confronts Simon and breaks down part of her life story in a way that leaves you wanting more. Yet, The Travel Companion isn’t about her, so here she is, giving an emotional performance, one that wakes you up and engages you a bit, only to be dismissed for the movie isn’t about her, her feelings, or what’s going on in her life. It’s about Simon having so little that he desperately needs to keep this one perk so that he can give his life meaning.

Overall

Our Rating (75/100): Mixed (Divisive)

The Travel Companion offers a subdued character study that struggles to make its lead, Simon, compelling enough to sustain interest. As a documentarian desperate to maintain relevance by clinging to his subject, Simon evokes mild irritation rather than sympathy or intrigue, and while his actions are self-serving, he lacks the kind of depth or charisma to provoke a strong emotional response, positive or negative.

In contrast, Beatrice, a fellow filmmaker in a relationship to the key to Simon’s potential success, Bruce, injects a burst of intrigue that the film sorely lacks elsewhere. Her limited screen time leaves viewers wanting more, highlighting how much more engaging The Travel Companion could have been if it shifted its focus. Yet, despite hints at themes—like professional envy, dependency, and personal stagnation—the film too often centers on Simon’s shallow motivations, missing opportunities to explore more dynamic characters.

Ultimately, it leaves The Travel Companion as a quiet, sometimes frustrating film that doesn’t fully capitalize on its supporting talent or narrative potential. Thus making it seem it often feels like it’s about the wrong person.

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