THE FRIEND -- Great Cast, Simple Story

Review by Adam Donato

The Friend is based on a novel by Sigrid Nunez, who has been popular as of late. She is also the author of The Room Next Door, which also has a great cast, but is paired with a top flight director in Pedro Almodovar. On the other hand, The Friend is directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, who have a much less acclaimed filmography compared to Almodovar. Here we have the likes of Naomi Watts and Bill Murray gracing the front of the poster as well as Apollo played by Bing the dog. The story is one of grief as Watts’s character is saddled with Murray’s Great Dane after he tragically kills himself. Can this sweet little dog movie touch hearts at the box office?

The story of the film is very much so paint by the numbers. The ending of the film is telegraphed from the moment she takes in the dog. It’s solid enough, but nothing to write home about. It’s actually quite relatable as anybody who has rented before will definitely be frustrated by the situation Watts is put in by her landlords. It’s morally conflicting though as her character is definitely in the wrong. She’s not a bad person as her situation is justifiable. There’s so much time in the film focused on the logistics of taking care of the dog, when more of it should’ve been focused on dealing with grief. The film is way too long as it is, clocking in at just under two hours when this could’ve been a tight ninety minutes. By the time we’re focusing more on the emotional aspects of the narrative, it’s too little too late. 

The performances are the saving grace of the film. Naomi Watts is a seasoned professional and carries the film. She expresses her character’s vulnerabilities in such an effective way. Bill Murray is barely in the film so it’s kind of cheap that he’s one of the three faces of the poster. He’s serviceable just playing himself, which is better than most actors any day. There’s some high profile people in supporting roles here. Carla Gugino is very limited in her role. Constance Wu’s character is a perplexing speed bump in the narrative. Sarah Pidgeon flounders in her role, whereas Ann Dowd brings a good amount of heart. Bing was perfect. Such a gorgeous dog that thrives on screen. 

The Friend is a perfect flick to check out for dog lovers. It really explores the role of a dog in our lives and how we can learn about our lives from their perspective. They’re such loving and innocent creatures that we need in our lives. While the story isn’t great, it’s worth the watch thanks to this cast. It’s sweet and sad in a warm kind of way. It won’t be in theaters for long so check it out soon, but this could wait for streaming. 

The Friend is in theaters April 3. 

Rating: 3/5