There are several awards each year that honour the gifted performances of animals on the big screen.  The Palm Dog is “dished” out at the Cannes Film Festival and the 2024 winner was the Border Collie seen in Anatomy of a Fall.  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) hand out a series of awards, punily titled the “Oscats”, which promote kindness to animals.  Media outlets light-heartedly pitch for a new Oscars category given the “performances” featured in films including The Banshees of Inisherin, EO, Inside Llewyn Davis, and The Artist.

I didn’t think much of The Friend, but I’ll concede it’s a film which may weave its way into the hearts of dog lovers.  Iris (Watts) is a New York City-based writer rocked by the suicide of a friend and colleague, Walter (Murray).  In the aftermath of his passing, Iris is asked to take custody of Walter’s loyal Great Dane, Apollo.  It’s a difficult situation for them both.  Apollo slips into a depressive state and doesn’t understand why his long-time master is no longer around.  Iris lives in a small, one-bedroom apartment and in addition to animals being banned in the building, she lacks the time to care for a needy dog.

You can see where this movie is going from the outset.  Based on a 2018 novel from American author Sigrid Nunez, it’s a tale about the value of canines in shaping our lives.  A dog is the last thing Iris wanted but, with each passing day, she forms a closer connection with Apollo which provides comfort and purpose.  In the case of the Great Dane, he slowly warms to his new owner’s mannerisms and rediscovers a sense of happiness. 

There’s not much to take away from the rest of the narrative.  There are subplots involving Iris’s interactions with Walter’s ex-wives and college students but they’re not particularly enlightening.  Bill Murray (Lost in Translation) is promoted on the film’s poster but is seldom seen given his early demise.  Aside from Iris, the only human character arc of interest is that of the building manager (Solis) who faces a dilemma when his employment obligations clash with his moral compass.

If you’re a dog lover though, don’t let my negatively dissuade you from seeing The Friend.  If there really was an Oscar for best animal performance, Apollo would be a serious contender.  He’s fun to watch!