The Friend looks at first like a conventional drama about a person and a dog grieving together. It is more complicated and less sentimental than that. Iris, a writer played by Naomi Watts, inherits the enormous Great Dane Apollo after the death of her friend and former mentor Walter. Neither seems equipped to cope with their new situation.
The film understands grief as something diffuse, angry and unresolved. Watts gives Iris a restraint that makes her contradictions believable. Her growing bond with Apollo becomes the emotional centre without turning the dog into a simple replacement for Walter.
Apollo, played by Bing, is never reduced to a cute accessory. His size and presence matter, as do quieter moments when he and Iris share space without dialogue. Some of the strongest scenes simply let that connection become visible.
Bill Murray's brief appearances as Walter preserve the difficult sides of his relationship with Iris. Charm, selfishness, hurt and admiration coexist. The film does not smooth away uncomfortable implications or turn the dead man into a saint.
The telling is calm and almost literary, with long conversations and reflective detours. Parts of the middle could be tighter, and several supporting characters are little more than placeholders. Those weaknesses do not seriously displace the focus on Iris and Apollo.
I give The Friend 3.5 out of 5 stars. It explores friendship, memory and continuing after loss with quiet depth. The pace will not suit everyone, but its melancholy works gradually rather than forcing an emotional response. Viewers willing to stay with the pauses and ambiguities are rewarded.