The Friend

Naomi Watts stars in this unlikely New York buddy comedy between a woman and the Great Dane that is thrust upon her. When the august, thrice-married writer-professor Walter (Bill Murray) takes his own life, he leaves a grand absence. No more so than his one time mentee Iris (Naomi Watts), who has been bequeathed his beloved dog. How she, the beast and the free-roaming satellites of Walter’s life can co-exist in a tiny rent-controlled apartment is the stuff of great pathos and comedy.

Like the films of Noah Baumbach or Woody Allen, this archly funny, moving drama is perfectly observed and backed up by a cast of pitch perfect character performers including Ann Dowd, Carla Gugino and Constance Wu. But this is a real demonstration of Naomi Watts’ talents, as the woman realising how a dog will drag you into life.