Review of The Object of My Affection (1998) by Elysia — 20 Nov 2009

It's not cool to love this movie. It's the least cool movie I own and the only 'romcom'. That I do love it may even discredit some of my other movie opinions.

I am unashamed. I watch this on pretty much a semiannual basis and have done since it came out on VHS. The cast, the performances, the message, the 90sness - I'm buying it all.

I hypothesise that the mind-blowingly stupid premise- a straight woman falling in love with a gay man and asking him to raise her child with her -probably lost it most of its star ratings and potential viewers.

This film is what I imagined being a grown up was like...oh wait it still is. It's about love, of course, but primarily it's not about sexual/romantic love but rather the rest of the loved ones. The ones that become your family from circumstance or because you choose them to be.

In regards to the romantic side of things, well, I don't want to spoil it for you but they key messages non-sickening and well delivered. The film is peppered with insights into class, NYC, theatre, relationships and family. Dialogue gems such as "freud doesn't know DICK about women", " and "don't set up your life so that you are alone just as you come to the middle of it". Best of all it doesn't treat you like an idiot...good-hearted optimist perhaps but not an idiot.

Watch it, go on...you know you want to.