The Object of My Affection (1998)

A pregnant New York social worker begins to develop romantic feelings for her gay best friend, and decides she'd rather raise her child with him, much to the dismay of her overbearing boyfriend.

Director:

Nicholas Hytner

Writers:

Stephen McCauley (novel), Wendy Wasserstein (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Rudd, Kali Rocha, Jennifer Aniston

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Rudd	...	George Hanson
Kali Rocha	...	Melissa Marx
Jennifer Aniston	...	Nina Borowski
Lena Cardwell	...	Girl at Community Center
Natalie B. Kikkenborg	...	Girl at Community Center
Lauren Pratt	...	Sally Miller
Hayden Panettiere	...	Mermaid
Lauren Chen	...	Violin Player
Liam Aiken	...	Nathan
Alan Alda	...	Sidney Miller
Allison Janney	...	Constance Miller
Tim Daly	...	Dr. Robert Joley
Janet Zarish	...	Dinner Guest
Ellen Tobie	...	Dinner Guest
Virl Andrick	...	Dinner Guest

Storyline

George and Nina seem like the perfect couple. They share a cozy Brooklyn apartment, a taste for tuna casserole dinners, and a devotion to ballroom dancing. They love each other. There's only one hitch: George is gay. And when Nina announces she's pregnant, things get especially complicated. Vince - Nina's overbearing boyfriend and the baby's father-wants marriage. Nina wants independence. George will do anything for a little unqualified affection, but is he ready to become an unwed surrogate dad?

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Plot Keywords:

love | gay lead character | college professor | black cop | unwed pregnancy | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes The Most Desirable Relationship Is The One You Can't Have

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Liebe in jeder Beziehung

Filming Locations:

Central Park Zoo, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£339,672 (UK) (26 June 1998)

Gross:

£1,857,712 (UK) (21 August 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

George tells Nina that his date for his high school prom (the one to whom he showed a "good time") was named Lucy Jane. In a display of her offbeat sense of humor, that is the name of screenwriter Wendy Wasserstein's daughter.

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Goofs

In the scene at the beginning, where Nathan and George were peeping out from behind the curtains at the school play, and Nathan asks who George is waiting for, Liam Aiken mouths Paul Rudd's next line.

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Quotes

Rodney: Don't fix your life so that you are left alone right when you come to the middle of it.

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Connections

Referenced in Joni's Promise (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Look for the Union Label"
Written by Paula Green
By special arrangement with UNITE

User Reviews

Never mind the critics. This movie is a must see.

It's amazing how this sensitive film can be realistic all the time. Although this is, indeed, a love story, there's no need to give the viewer happy solutions just to make them fulfilled. Every second of the movie is real, every emotion, every fact. Justice to Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. There's an amazing cast here, including Mad About You's John Pankow and veteran Alan Alda (all great) but the movie belongs to Jennifer and Paul. They make you think no one else could do a better portrait of Nina and George - they were born to do it. Anyone can relate to them at some point. Congratulations not only for the two, but also for the entire crew who made this movie - including, of course, the great sensibility of director Nicholas Hytner. A job well done.