THE FRIEND Reviewed by GREG KING
Directors: Scott McGehee and David Siegel
Stars: Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Felix Solis, Noma Dumezweni, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Sarah Pigeon, Ann Dowd, Bing.
There have been many great movies about dogs. Marley & Me is the highest grossing live action film about a dog; and other great films featuring cute and funny dogs include Turner & Hooch, Old Yeller, Greyfriars Bobby, Lassie Come Home, Beethoven, and the animated Disney classics Lady And The Tramp and 101 Dalmatians. All of those films were more entertaining, enjoyable and moving than this shaggy dog story that pairs Naomi Watts with a 150 pound Great Dane named Apollo. And most of those aforementioned movies have stood the test of time and are fondly remembered by audiences, whereas The Friend will probably be forgotten within a couple of years.
Iris (Watts) is a writer suffering from a temporary case of writer’s block. She also teaches a course in creative writing. Her mentor Walter (Bill Murray) commits suicide, and Iris finds herself left to care for his dog Apollo. Walter’s widow Barbara (Noma Dumezweni) wants nothing to do with the dog and has placed it in a kennel. Iris lives in a small rent-controlled apartment, the size of a shoebox, that belonged to her father, who recently passed away. Apollo quickly takes over the small apartment, sleeping on her bed forcing Iris to take a position on the floor.
The building has a no pets policy, and Iris is constantly informed by the superintendent and janitor Hektor (Felix Solis, from Arbitrage, etc) that she can’t keep the dog. She pleads with Hektor to allow her to keep Apollo while she tries to find suitable accommodation.
Gradually Iris and Apollo bond and he helps her work her way through her grief and overcome a number of emotional crises. Iris is also trying to edit a book containing Walter’s correspondence, with some input from his estranged adult daughter Val (Sarah Pigeon, recently seen in the remake of I Know What You Did Last Summer, etc). Iris also has to contend with Walter’s three interfering ex-wives (Constance Wu’s Tuesday, and Carla Gugino’s Elaine are the other two) and her well-meaning neighbour Marjorie (Ann Dowd).
The Friend has been written and directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel who have made several films together (The Deep End, etc), and the film has been adapted from the bestselling 2018 novel written by Sigrid Nunez. Even though the film is an examination of grief and loss, and the cathartic healing power of canine friendship, The Friend is fairly lightweight superficial stuff and a more subdued drama in contrast to the filmmaker’s previous dramas. It delivers platitudes in place of real insight and genuine emotion. The directors avoid unnecessary sentimentality. The drama is accompanied by a treacly string laden score from Jay Wadley and Trevor Gureckis. The film looks great thanks to the cinematography of Gilles Nuttgens, who captures some evocative images of the New York settings.
Murray shares top billing alongside Watts, but he is only in the film for 10-15 minutes, most of his scenes are flashbacks. Nonetheless he still brings his typically droll style and laidback manner to the role of the cynical, self-centred womanising writer. Watts is fine and delivers an understated performance, bringing a range of emotions to her character who is thrust outside her comfort zone. But Bing is a stand-out as Apollo; he has an expressive face, sorrowful eyes and strong personality. And the most sympathetic human character here is Hektor, the building supervisor.
The Friend will certainly appeal to dog lovers; others may find it a tad too dull and predictable.
★★☆
