Review of Dinner with Friends (2001) by Alison O — 11 Mar 2006

Best in Show: Toni Collette.

One for the future: Toni Collette.

Stand-out scene: Closing scene.

Brainer or no-brainer: Brainer.

Stands up to one viewing or repeated?: Repeated.

DVD commentary any good?: n/a.

DVD.

A TV move, but an HBO TV movie this adaptation of a theatrical play benefits immensely from a stellar cast and accomplished director (Norman Jewison). Adapted for TV by Donald Margulies from his own stage play (he will direct his first movie this year), this is a dialogue-heavy story about two married couples re-evaluating their relationships after twelve years. Andie MacDowell and Dennie Quaid are Karen and Gabe, leading a sort of Kelloggs family existence. When Tom (Greg Kinnear) and Beth (Toni Collette) two friends they acted as matchmakers for announce they're splitting up, Karen and Gabe contemplate how the dynamics of their own union has changed over the years. Also under examination is the relationships between the four friends and how each of them perceive their places in the equation. Then there's the matter of the effect of the split on Tom and Beth's kids to deal with. With Karen and Gabe having recently returned from a working holiday in Italy gathering material for a gourmet guide there's material for food lovers to pore over too, and with the action set against various meals and gatherings involving the four main protagonists there's scope for Jewison to look beyond the stagey settings that hamper a lot of play to screen transitions. Part of the movie being set in a sun-soaked Martha's Vineyard also enhances your enjoyment. Talk-heavy movies aren't everyone's cup of tea and sometimes even the most ardent 'serious' movie fan can find them hard-going but I was just in the mood to relish this grey matter tickling effort. The superb cast also helps you appreciate the class of the movie, which outstrips a lot of big screen efforts. Nominated in the Best Made for TV category at the Emmys, this lost out to The Gathering Storm, which is fantastic company to be judged amongst. Great.