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Review by James Lindorf
The film adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s National Book Award-winning novel “The Friend” opens in theaters on April 4th. Filmmaking duo Scott McGehee and David Siegel (What Maisie Knew) crafted this emotional drama for the screen. Actors Naomi Watts and Bill Murray lead the way as they examine what happens when a seemingly idyllic life is turned upside down.
Iris (Watts) lives in a 500 sqft apartment, which may not sound great, but it is in Manhattan, and it’s rent-controlled. Making it a dream come true in the current housing market. Iris is living another popular dream by earning a living as an author and teacher. Walter (Murray) is her mentor, former lover, and closest friend. Their friendship has survived three ex-wives (Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, and Noma Dumezweni), a grown daughter (Sarah Pidgeon) not conceived in wedlock, and Walter’s misconduct accusation. When he dies suddenly, it sends her life into disarray, which is compounded when the self-proclaimed cat person finds out she has been willed Apollo, a 150 lb Great Dane. Apollo immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from schedule disruption to eviction notices, but if they can get past the initial hurdles, they may be able to help each other overcome their grief.
In the marketing, Murry is sold as the co-star, if not the outright lead, but the truth is he is only in a handful of scenes. He is as good as you would expect, but the story is about how his presence and absence impact Iris and the rest of their social circle. Iris’s relationship with the rest of the circle is largely strained by varied responses from each of his wives. Wife number one, Elaine (Gugino), is a friendly co-conspirator against the rest of the group. She may not have the same friendship with Walter as Iris. However, she is still capable of admiring his brilliance while acknowledging his faults and the ridiculousness of other members of the group. The relationship with wife number 2, Tuesday (Wu), is the most difficult; Tuesday is judgemental of Iri’s lifestyle, lack of wealth, relationship with Walter, and how she cares for Apollo. Wife number 3 is Barbara, and their connection died the day Walter did. She unloads Apollo on Iris, insisting that Walter wanted it before moving on with her life. These women are narrowly written characters, but they are still more three-dimensional than everyone surrounding Iris beyond Val and the dog.
“The Friend” takes a more subtle look at the grieving process. Maybe you will lock yourself in your apartment for days crying nonstop or drink yourself into a stupor like is often depicted in the film. Here, Watts’ sadness and anger are slowly eroding her tough exterior until she is shocked to learn she has developed a bit of a codependent relationship with Apollo. Watts is wonderful as Iris, and her talent is on full display during a final act visit to a therapist. The range of emotions displayed in a five-minute sequence is truly impressive and a reminder of what a fantastic actor she is for anyone who hasn’t seen her recently. “The Friend” could be seen as underwhelming with its lack of dynamic moments. Still, it is highly relatable to those who have experienced loss, even more so if they are dog people. Overall, “The Friend” comes in with a 3.5 out of 5 score.
Director: Scott McGehee, Stacey Battat, David Siegel
Producer: Liza Chasin, Scott McGehee, David Siegel, Mike Spreter
Screenwriter: David Siegel, Scott McGehee
Distributor: Bleecker Street
Production Co: Big Creek Projects, 3dot productions
Rating: R (A Sexual Reference|Language)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): April 4th, 2025
Runtime: 2h 3m
