Film Review: THE FRIEND

Apollo, played by Bing.

If you love dogs or Bill Murray or Naomi Watts, you should definitely see The Friend, now streaming on Amazon Prime. It's a somber tale -- not at all funny despite the presence of Mr. Murray -- about a lovable Great Dane named Apollo who steals every scene he's in.

I'm not giving much away to say that Apollo is bequeathed to Iris (Watts) from her friend Walter (Murray) following his death. Only Iris cannot possibly take on this huge burden, and I do mean huge, since she lives in a tiny Manhattan apartment with a strict no-dogs policy, and the dog is the size of a pony. Her moral dilemma is the central theme of the movie.

Walter was a writer of some modest fame who had a large circle of friends, an adult daughter who entered his life fully grown, and several ex-wives, all of whom show up at one social gathering or another. We root for the dog, feel sorry for Iris, and cry like a baby for a few minutes here and there. But relax, it's not just some sappy dog movie -- it's more like Franz Kafka meets Old Yeller, but with a happier ending. Peppered with reflections on what defines a friendship and the meaning of life, it's deep enough to warrant a second viewing. 

In a nutshell: The musical score is quirky and interesting, New York City looks enticing and livable, Naomi Watts is once again brilliant, and Bill Murray got really old, really fast. Trust me, you'll love it. Especially Apollo.

P. S. Relax, the dog lives.