This is a smart, witty film, which is in places funny, even though it has a sad/neurotic under-tone to it. It is the story of 4 friends : Christine (Catherine Keener) unhappily married to fellow screen-writer David, Jane (Frances McDormand) a famous fashion designer married to Aaron (who Christine thinks is gay), Franny (Joan Cusack) married to Matt, and Olivia (Jennifer Anniston) who is single. The 4 care about each other, but can still be petty and mean behind each other’s backs. Each has her own problems : Christine faces imminent divorce, Jane is depressed and prone to emotional outbursts, and Olivia used to be a high-school teacher, but she is now a maid, after a melt-down (we don’t see it, apparently happened in the past). Franny and Matt are the only obviously happy ones. Their friends assume it’s probably because they are very rich, have hired help, and have the time to do what they please.
There are of course the conflicts that come with having more money or less than your friends – Franny buys her daughter $95 shoes but won’t loan Olivia money when she wants to get training to be a personal trainer. And the remarks that fly about in private in the friends’ homes about each other, are pretty snarky.
The other 3 are worried about Olivia, and trying to get her settled because she seems to meet the worst men, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere in her life. Franny sets her up with her personal trainer Mike (Scott Caan), but he turns out to be a real cad, using and abusing Olivia, and even demanding a “cut” of her money when he accompanies her to her cleaning jobs. Needless to say, it’s not like he does any cleaning. But poor Olivia (and I really felt bad for her) is too beat-up and down-and-out to refuse the sleazebag anything he demands of her. Finally he decides he doesn’t want her anymore, and breaks up. Olivia is pretty much where she was then, cleaning homes, although she does manage to get angry with Scott when she sees him with another woman, and buck up a little.
Although acting is good overall, Anniston does really well, portraying Olivia as the sad, broken-up individual that she is. You feel bad for her when she lets people walk all over her and get away with it, and you cheer for her when she gets a bit of good-luck. Overall, an interesting film, and worth the time.
Categories : _films , _film_reviews
