The Friend

Bing could hardly be more charming as the dog whose presence causes her to confront what’s missing in her own life. How does the closing number go? “A wondrous toy just made for a girl and boy”. I’ll buy that.

A love letter to the canine community. Also, one of the warmest depictions of New York in recent memory.

This dog can act!

Watts finds another rich vein of emotion to dramatize with delicacy, humor and intelligent vulnerability.

I don’t know if one can rightly call Apollo’s performance a performance. But whatever it is, it’s heartfelt.

“The Friend” is a very New York movie, with its brownstone-lined streets and bookish apartments and literary professions, but its message is a universal one: Grief is a profound journey, better experienced with a friend at one’s side.

[The dog] has a very expressive face and appears to be acting alongside his human co-stars. His sadness offsets anyone else’s on screen, causing audiences to empathize with him, perhaps even more than the human bereaved.

t’s not a spectacular breakout but rather an intelligently meticulous mix of low-key, detailed, character-based storytelling, and perfect casting.

A delightful, leisurely, and painful journey, full of introspection and valuable lessons. [Full Review in Spanish]

Any Bill Murray movie is a good movie because Bill Murray is Bill Murray.