overlaying the drama with the false cheer of lively music and bouts of humor, the story feels out of touch with the very emotions it desperately tries to evoke. Neither tearjerker nor very affecting drama, it defaults to somewhere in the middle
overall, Gabriela Cowperthwaite really succeeds with "The Friend". The movie tells a tragically familiar story of cancer's effect on a family, and does so with honesty, care, and (surprisingly enough) joy
in this frustratingly told adaptation of a true story.. Cowperthwaite's direction captures the unvarnished truth of Teague's article, but the film's overall shapelessness dilutes that truth until time loses all meaning
an affecting look at love, cancer & heartbreaking limits of devotion; Where the story's ending might not transcend this family's fate, "The Friend" lets its audience believe in their future--through the tears, with each other
a trio of terrific performances help to elevate this movie. Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson and especially Jason Segel deliver here, investing you in a way that the filmmaking isn't always able to do; It can be a tough watch, but overall..it's a good one
a moving film about love, friendship, and impending loss that never panders or gives in to unwarranted emotional manipulation, The Friend is a delicate and thoughtful take on material that could've easily been turned into an empty tearjerker
a meandering fact-based drama; for a film about such a devastating topic, a mother in her 30s dying of cancer, there's not the stinging sadness that we expect to arrive; Try reading the article instead
a handsome, earnest drama headlined by Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson; This is a tasteful, respectful and thoughtful film about what it means to be a true friend in the darkest of times
by Corey Chichizola [CinemaBlend ]
by Joey Magidson [Hollywood News ]
by Benjamin Lee [The Guardian ]
