The Friend

A classic definition of a "guy flick" is one in which many people die very rapidly - the corresponding definition of a "chick flick" is one in which one person dies very slowly. "The Friend" is a variation on the latter theme in which a major character (Murray) dies at the outset of the film, and most of two hours is spent depicting how his widow, his ex, his daughter, his dog, and his best friend/protégé/ex lover (Watts) and the dog Apollo (a gigantic Great Dane) slowly come to terms with that death. The production values are excellent. The acting is magnificent. The pacing is tedious. Seeing it once was more than enough.

This film really should have been a slam dunk, but somehow it manages to be overly long, barely sentimental or emotional, and lacking in any real connection with the characters.

The basic premise is that Naomi Watts inherits a giant great dane from her friend and mentor, and struggles to connect with the dog and look after it. What follows should be a sad and poignant yet heartwarming journey as owner and dog open up to each other and learn things along the way. Instead, the characters remain at a distance. The journey just isn't there for any of them really. What transformations and revelation Watts' character has are so surface level and sparsely explored, that they really don't make much of an impact.

As a result, the film feels very repetitive, static, and just overly long. There really is no real reason why this film had to be 2 hours long. It's a reasonable runtime if it was used effectively, but it just didn't deliver what it should have done emotionally.

It's a shame because the performances are all good, and the dog is lovely (even if he does have an oppressively sad face), so the foundations are all here. Unfortunately it just fails to capitalise on any of this, resulting in a rather drab and dare I say boring film.

Directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel adapt Sigrid Nunez's novel, starring a charming Naomi Watts and a Great Dane who stands out as one of the best canine actors of recent times.

A heartfelt and heartwarming drama about grief and the bond between pet and owner. A novel adapted with sincerity and commitment, it's a perfect drama that's well directed and well acted, drawing us into a study of the characters in all their layers, including a heartfelt performance by a dog who steals the show.

It's a perfect exploration of the profound drama of the loss of a loved one, equated in two parallel worlds: that of an animal and that of a person. This dynamic makes the film a constant journey through the intensity of grief, but also through the shortcomings of a protagonist who invites us on a journey through her healing as we immerse ourselves in a magnificent and adorable love story between a dog and a human. This film leaves its own mark, avoiding the typical dog movie we're accustomed to.

It's a well-known story that man's best friend has won that ground. It's a film that dares to explore a dog's deepest sorrow for his owner and his own grief-healing process. Magically portrayed by our friend Apollo, whose wide gaze and size fill us with grief and joy at the same time, we can even sense his own personal interpretation of the canine drama he brings to the screen-an absolute visual impact.

It's a film that offers a moving, funny, humane, and unforgettable story about friendship, loneliness, grief, and love in all its layers. A pleasant and sweet journey in a correct and sincere adaptation of the novel in question. It becomes an irresistible experience that anyone who has ever loved a pet must see.

The supporting cast is excellent, and of course, Murray nails it, making his few scenes shine. New York City has never looked better, thanks to cinematographer Giles Nuttgens.

Bleecker Street hits the nail on the head with the layout of this little indie gem.

Reuniting St Vincent (2014) stars, Bill Murray and Naomi Watts, The Friend is a heavy, emotional tale that deals with death, suicide, and perseverance.

Positives +Naomi Watts knocks it out of the park!

+Apollo the Great Dane is a cute pup actor.

+Scene voiceovers switch between characters +Thorough plot that examines all aspects of the story +A bit of creative fantasy

Negatives -Multiple "False endings" scenes. You think the movie is over, but then another scene appears. Again. And again.

-Felt too long with the above endings.

-A lot of characters thrown in at once, but not explained until later.

This movie had me crying in my seat. The connections of suicide, survivors guilt, regrets, and family were heavy. But your connections to these topics could increase or decrease your enjoyment. Buckle in for a long, but fulfilling journey.

-GremlinLord615 -Full Reviews on my YT.

I went in expecting a sentimental story about a woman and a big dog, and while that element is definitely there, The Friend surprised me with how layered and restrained it was. Naomi Watts gives a really thoughtful performance-quiet, a little distant, but grounded in real emotion. And Bill Murray, though only present in flashbacks and memory, adds a lot of warmth and depth to the story.

What really worked for me was the tone: melancholic without being heavy-handed, and gently funny in places without trying too hard. The relationship between Iris and the dog felt believable-not overly cute, just human and strange and a little awkward, like grief often is.

The trailer made it seem like a straightforward healing-through-pet story, but the film is more reflective than that, and it lingers in your mind afterward. Some scenes felt a little slow, but overall it earned its quiet pace.

Definitely worth seeing if you're into character-driven stories that give you space to feel without telling you how.