Review of The Anniversary Party (2001) by Jami L — 18 May 2009

The Anniversary Party was written/directed/and staring Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

The story revolves around a famous Hollywood couple. He is a novelist, turned director. She is an actress. They have a shin dig at their house, celebrating their six year wedding anniversary. Sex, alcohol,drugs, relationships, the way we communicate with the people around us.

This was a good movie, but so frustrating. I really enjoyed the story and the acting was great. I just felt like something was missing and I thought that they could have ended it better. But over all, I have to say that I enjoyed it.

The cast in this movie is nothing short of stellar. Alan Cummings, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Kevin Kline, John C. Riley, Jane Adams, Parker Posey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Beals, and Michael Panes.

Pheobe Cates and Kevin Kline are one of my favorite Hollywood couples. So I got a kick out of seeing them playing the married acting couple. It was also great that they used their real kids to play Jack and Evie. You could sense the chemistry between Greta and Kevin, in a real father/daughter relationship. I think Kevin Kline is a brilliant actor, I just wish that had been showcased more. I think it's great that Pheobe and Jennifer ( Who both still look fabulous) have remained such good friends, since Fast Times.

There were some things I would have liked to change in this film. For being Alan Cumming's third directed feature film and Jennifer Jason Leigh's first, I have to hand it to them. The Anniversary party is a good story and a pretty decent movie.