Dinner with Friends (2001) (TV)

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writers (WGA):

Donald Margulies (play)
Donald Margulies (teleplay)

Release Date:

11 August 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Can Your Marriage Survive, Your Best Friends Divorce.

Plot:

A husband and wife reevaluate their marriage after their closest friends, another couple decide to split up after twelve years.

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Food | Friendship | Friend | New York City

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Dennis Quaid	...	Gabe
Andie MacDowell	...	Karen
Greg Kinnear	...	Tom
Toni Collette	...	Beth
Taylor Emerson	...	Danny
Jake Fritz	...	Isaac
Holliston Coleman	...	Laurie
Angus T. Jones	...	Sammy
Beau Holden	...	Al
Dina Morrone	...	Hostess
Ruth Reichl	...	Herself
Romulo Yanes	...	Gourmet Photographer

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

94 min | Argentina:107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-3 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Malibu, California, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

The play "Dinner with Friends" won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 2000.

Goofs:

Continuity: 15 minutes into the movie, just before Gabe says "Beth, I'm sorry", the clock in the kitchen reads 8:50. A few seconds later, the clock in the foyer reads 8:20.

Quotes:

Gabe: Expressionist. Neo-psychotic.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2002) (TV)

Match makers

Having seen Donald Margulies' play when it opened in New York, I was interested in what Norman Jewison, the director, had done with it for the screen version. It helps that Mr. Margulies did his own adaptation, although, it appears to this viewer, the stage version was more satisfying. Not that there's anything wrong with the film, it's just that the cast in the play was far superior than these well intentioned actors we see in the movie. Mr. Margulies has tried to open his play, but it just doesn't go anywhere.

The basic premise, and a caveat to good friends, is to stay away from "fixing up" prospective marriage partners, as things in life are a bit more complicated than a good ending in a book, a play, a movie, or human relations.

Karen and Gabe are happily married. They conjure to arrange a meeting with Beth, a painter, and Tom, a lawyer. Basically, the idea of having mutual friends meet one another, might not be bad, but in reality things should be let alone and let nature takes its course. The bright idea back fires on Karen, who, upon hearing at the beginning of the film that her best friend, Beth, is divorcing Tom, is visibly upset. She feels betrayed by these two people she was instrumental in bringing together.

It's hard for both, Gabe and Karen, to think where they went wrong in their match making roles. They never take into consideration that Beth is totally wrong for Tom, and vice versa. The problem is that this couple don't think that Beth and Tom have found new partners in what appears to be a much solid relationships than what they had together. Karen and Gabe are crushed, but in reality, not everything is perfect in their own marriage. We get hints that yes, they are not completely happy, but they have decided to stay in the marriage out of decency and out of duty to their two boys, which is what Beth and Tom have failed to do. Call them old fashioned, but one has to give Karen and Gabe a lot of credit for at least trying to stay together as a family.

Andie MacDowell is Karen; she is a beautiful woman. In the movie, Ms. MacDowell appears a bit distant. She loved to bring people together and resents their friends separation. Ms. MacDowell's Karen comes across as a hard and judgmental person. Dennis Quaid tries hard to give Gabe warmth. Perhaps he comes across as the best of the four principals. Toni Collette's Beth is an enigma until her confrontation with Karen at the restaurant, then, we see a woman that is not shy in telling her best friend off as she embarks in a new relationship. Greg Kinnear is Tom. He is perhaps the weakest link in the quartet, as he is perhaps, not treated fairly by Karen, or Gabe.

The movie remains a bit theatrical, but Norman Jewison has done wonders with the material.