Review of The Anniversary Party (2001) by Alita M — 25 Sep 2009

Invoking other classic old-friends-meet-again-at-dinner-party-then-get-drunk-or-high-and reveal-themselves dramas, the Anniversary Party does a solid job. The relationships definitely seem real enough and the performances are very natural (because the cast members are good friends in real life), but the screenplay seems a little too self-conscious and labored at times - an All About Eve type subplot ringing especially false.

If you like Robert Altman films, you'll like this one - overlapping dialogue and intersecting character arcs abound. Highlights include Jane Adams as an extremely intense new mother, and Michael Panes - a dead ringer for Peter Sellers if ever there was one, who does a decent spontaneous imitation of the late comedian as well - "Otis, where are you in this god-forsaken canyon? My people are hungry!" Good stuff.