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Comfort movie The Friend is a must for dog lovers - and everyone else

Naomi Watts with her co-star Bing - Having brought out the best in each other, they deserve to bring out the best in you
Naomi Watts with her co-star Bing - Having brought out the best in each other, they deserve to bring out the best in you
Reviewer score
15A
Director Scott McGehee, David Siegel
Starring Naomi Watts, Bing, Bill Murray, Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Carla Gugino, Noma Dumezweni, Ann Dowd, Felix Solis, Josh Pais, Tom McCarthy

"It's about the dog... I was wondering if I could ask if you could take him?"

One of the finest double acts of the year has received little fanfare, and, with all due respect, the pairing of Naomi Watts and a Great Dane wasn't top of anyone's dream combo wish list. But here we are with a smart, grown-up movie that does grief good without getting bogged down in it. This is one of Watts's finest performances, delivered while the canine giant steals scene after scene - even when sprawled out on the bed.

The Friend gets the messiness of life right and lives up to its line that "People feel the way they feel." Dogs too

Watts plays Iris, an academic with writer's block whose celebrated author friend Walter (Bill Murray) has just died. Tasked with becoming the new master of Walter's legendary companion Apollo (played by Bing), Iris says he's just going to up-end her apartment for a couple of days until she finds someone else to take him...

Sure, you know what's going to happen next - but that doesn't make The Friend any less enjoyable. This is comfort cinema dealing with an uncomfortable subject. It gets the messiness of life right and lives up to its line that "People feel the way they feel." Dogs too.

This is comfort cinema dealing with an uncomfortable subject

Through Iris's relationship with Apollo, we get a depiction of loss and putting one foot/paw in front of the other that deserves a wider audience than it will get during its cinema release. If you do see this film, you'll tell someone else about it. Along with stirring the heart, directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel will also steer the lucky few towards the Sigrid Nunez book on which their charmer is based.

Watts has hailed Bing as "the most cooperative co-star". Well, having brought out the best in each other, they deserve to bring out the best in you. Just make sure to bring a hanky.