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:

A love story that could only happen between best friends.

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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

Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr. were initially cast to star as Nina Borowski and George Hanson.

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Goofs

When George and Nina are kissing on the bed, Nina unbuttons his shirt, then when he answers the phone his shirt is fastened again. He then gets up and walks away, shirt open.

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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

"You Are a Peach"
Written by Simon Chamberlain

User Reviews

Sensitive straight/gay romance pre-"Will & Grace"

Despite a downright peculiar finish which gives new meaning to the term 'feel-good', "The Object of My Affection" is a careful, perceptive and insightful comedy-drama about a straight woman and her gay-male best friend living together. Keeping the obvious sex-jokes at bay, the movie strives to create three-dimensional people and works most of the time. This is due in large part to Jennifer Aniston, an easy presence on the screen. The set-up is pure formula, but the results are occasionally offbeat, squirrelly, sometimes funny and moving. Story thread with Nigel Hawthorne as an elderly gay man who gets dumped-on shows the casual cruelty inherent in gay relationships, and this is handled with quiet taste. Not everything works in "Affection", but it is remarkably pleasant and (for better or worse) hetero-friendly. *** from ****