With Murray on the marquee, the bland movie title, and the huge dog prominent in ads and trailers, it looks on its surface like a rollicking comedy. It's anything but.
Slower than arctic molasses in its first 90 minutes it finally becomes watchable in its third act as the story finally, at long last, boils down to its truth: How suicide (famous author Murray's) affects those left behind, from 3 ex-wives (including Carla Gugino, who gets quite a surprise at Murray's wake), literary partners, and friends to our furry friends who worship and also mourn us when we're gone.
Watts unexpectedly inherits Murray's massive dog for her tiny rent-controlled Greenwich Village apartment...where she's lived for many years, but where dogs are not allowed. Being rent-controlled, the building's owner cashes in if they evict her and rent to a new tenant. Her creative solution starts with a drop-in visit to a therapist which finally makes that last half hour worth staying with....with Murray prominently featured.
Good thing I paid to see it in a movie theater, because on home video I'd have bailed long before that hour and a half was up, in a 2-hour, ponderous movie that in the end is interesting and rewarding, but way too long, slow, and unfocused.
Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and a Great Dane in "The Friend"
Moderator: STLtoday Forum Moderators
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 1717
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019 22:28 pm
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 739
- Joined: 21 Sep 2024 19:03 pm
Re: Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and a Great Dane in "The Friend"
Marray is at an interesting point in his career. Some of the teflon has worn off, a number of the people he's worked with, who have him down as a bully, have taken him to task publicly.
But to me, he'll always just be Ernie McCracken, salt o' th' Eart' :
But to me, he'll always just be Ernie McCracken, salt o' th' Eart' :
Disclaimer: The video above is hosted on Youtube, and has not be reviewed by the staff of the Post-Dispatch.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 216
- Joined: 28 May 2024 12:04 pm
Re: Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and a Great Dane in "The Friend"
"I pulled out of her really early on that one."
Say what you want, but Big Ern McCracken is one of the best comedy "villains" ever.
Say what you want, but Big Ern McCracken is one of the best comedy "villains" ever.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 1717
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019 22:28 pm
Re: Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and a Great Dane in "The Friend"
Re "The Friend", I might have been just a bit too invested in the movie from personal connections:
A very close relative has a dog with the same name as the Great Dane's character;
My wife had a beloved Great Dane as a puppy...and it only lived two years.
I enjoy Naomi Watts in anything.
The topic of suicide strikes closely, since I personally administered 775 interments in the cemetery biz in SoCal, with perhaps a dozen of the deceased suicides, and I listened to their pained survivors' pain and questions while providing the services.
No spoiler here, but in hindsight I think of the very last scene along the river in a whole different light now, and it's wonderful. Definitely a tissue-grabber.
A very close relative has a dog with the same name as the Great Dane's character;
My wife had a beloved Great Dane as a puppy...and it only lived two years.
I enjoy Naomi Watts in anything.
The topic of suicide strikes closely, since I personally administered 775 interments in the cemetery biz in SoCal, with perhaps a dozen of the deceased suicides, and I listened to their pained survivors' pain and questions while providing the services.
No spoiler here, but in hindsight I think of the very last scene along the river in a whole different light now, and it's wonderful. Definitely a tissue-grabber.
Spoiler
Was that final scene about how Murray and Apollo first met? Or, a heavenly reunion of Murray's suicidal author with his beloved Apollo?