The Anniversary Party Review
by Mark Leeper (leeper AT mtgbcs DOT usae DOT avaya DOT com)July 7th, 2001
THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
CAPSULE: This is a film of characters and interactions rather than pyrotechnics. The film is driven by the personalities of the characters. That's good. What's missing is the reason to care much about these characters and their interactions. That's bad. The film has a gamut of emotions presented but few rub off on the viewer. We need not just more films like this but also better films like this. I would invest interest in Jennifer Jason-Leigh and Alan Cummings not for current value but for growth potential. Rating: 5 (0 to 10), low +1 (-4 to +4)
THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY is a film about characters and relationships. Most of what happens in the film is talk. We have seen a number of such film like John Sayles's THE RETURN OF THE SECAUCUS SEVEN, Lawrence Kasdan's THE BIG CHILL, and a personal favorite, Bruce Beresford's DON'S PARTY. I am not sure why the latter is a favorite of mine unless perhaps because it is Australian and has a little bit of that country's politics. In any case these films are perhaps cautionary tales suggesting that parties and get-togethers should be kept brief and free from mind- altering substances to avoid indecent exposure of painful truths (and assorted body parts).
THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY does not take place in an exotic local (assuming that DON'S PARTY does) unless you consider the suburbs of Los Angeles exotic. The film is produced, directed, and stars Alan Cummings and Jennifer Jason Leigh, but sports a hefty ensemble of actors from independent films who are anxious to play opposite other actors rather than digital effects.
Sally and Joe (played by Jennifer Jason-Leigh and Alan Cummings) are celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary, but not celebrating six years together. They have been together only a few months of the six years and have just recently gotten together again. They have invited their friends, most of whom they cannot stand. Though the film Joe is to direct has a character based on Sally, He has cast a younger actress, Skye (Gwyneth Paltrow), in the role and Sally is less than pleased with Skye. Also among the invitees are the neighbors (Denis O'Hare and Mina Badie) with whom a thin coat of civility covers a festering feud over the behavior of the Tom and Sally's dog.
Where THE ANNIVERARY PARTY failed for me was in my lack of empathy for any of the characters. The script fails to give us much reason to care whether these people are going through a bad patch or not. The script seems contrived to set up ironic dramatic revelations and superficial insights into people's characters. These people are more involving than checkers on a board, but less than chess pieces.
There is not much that can be told in a review about a film like this because the characters are introduced, they party, and then there are ironic plot twists about the characters. Introducing the characters without telling the plot twists is pointless. Revealing the plot twists would spoil the experience of seeing the film. Not that what happens is so dramatic, but in a description of such a film less is more.
Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh have assembled a cast of familiar actors including themselves and Paltrow, but also Kevin Kline, Phoebe Cates, Jane Adams, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Beals, and Parker Posey. If you do the math, not every one of these can be use to his full potential. Each is part of some small subplot and each does a little fun acting exercise. The feel is as if Cumming and Leigh wanted to actually throw a party for their friends, mixing business and pleasure. The result is diverting enough to eavesdrop upon but really rather un-engaging as a while.
THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY keeps several plots going, each of which will be resolved by the end of the party. Once they are resolved the viewer will happily simply drop them. There is little to think about here after the film is over. I rate THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY 5 on the 0 to 10 scale and a low +1 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark Leeper
[email protected] Copyright 2001 Mark R. Leeper
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