New York City writer Iris finds her comfortable, solitary life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor bequeaths her a Great Dane named Apollo. The huge dog immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with Apollo, she begins to come to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life.

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Narratively The Friend follows a pretty well trodden tale and accompanying themes, well at least in these modern post Me Too movement times, of a prominent older artist caught up and caught out through it all. But one of the ways that makes The Friend unique is the way in it’s told is through said artist Walter’s correspondence left in the wake of his suicide.

 

The film doesn’t settle on any particular theme - is it the final reckoning for a powerful man, a tangled relational drama, or dog is humans best friend. But in the midst of it all is the tale of Iris, in the overwhelming muddle of grief, work, and reckoning with her friend's past, and her budding relationship with Apollo. 

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It’s in these moments that the film soars, as dog and human bond and connect. Naomi Watts gives a beautifully understated performance that could have easily stooped into eye-rolling, cheesy emotional stuff. 

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While there is familiarity here, The Friend is at its very best when Watts, in a beautifully understated performance, and her dog companion are sharing the silver screen.