Rating: 
Summary: Good dialogue movie with good dialogue!
Review: As an accidental rule, I love movies with 6 characters or less; the ones stripped down so that each characters personality can come through in a way that can not be enhanced by effects, special settings or other frills. I've watched this movie twice now and I can already say that I've picked up on several of the many, I'm sure, nuances here. Four characters, two mairrages, one divorce and each is remarkably done. I especially appreciate that none of the characters (even Kinnear's adulterous character, which he seems typecast for now) is presented as flawed, spirited and in a way, noble. Gabe (Dennis Quaid) is heartbreaking as he has taken back-seat in a mairrage to a strong woman (McDowell) who, while wanting, nay demanding, her husband talk to her more, always manages to tell him how stupid the things he says are. Also the contrast between the pairs is phenomenal. Tom is the confident divorcee, Gabe is the soft-spoken married one. Beth is the free-thinking, and maybee too free-thinking, now single, artist, and Karen is the organized and 'moralistic' married woman, trying all-too-hard too hold a friendship between the four together. Whether you are 21 or 71, married or single, male (well...maybe) or female (for my part, I am a 26 year old, happily single, male), parts of this film will speak to us all. Whether it's Tom's frank talks with Gabe about his wife's refusal for even basic physical contact, Gabe's rebuttal about the joys of mairrage and growing old with a sweetheart, Karen's dream about "the two us's" or Beth's attempts to remain aloof and free from it all. You may laugh, you'll certainly cry, you'll probably scatch your head, you'll pick a character to hate and find out you werer wrong, and you'll pick a character to love and find out you were right.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Intelligent AND Very Entertaining Movie
Review: DINNER WITH FRIENDS as a cinematic adaptation of the play of the same name by Donald Margulies succeeds on every level. The story is an investigation, over time, of two couples and how their connectedness differs. Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell are a happily married couple, so enjoying the married state that they introduce their best friends Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette during a summering at Martha's Vineyard. What happens in the ensuing ten-odd years to each of these couples makes for the grist of this very conversational tale. This is an astute study of relationships - how they develop through attraction, how they wear with time, how they succeed or fail. There is nothing new about the ideas in this engrossing film, but as directed with great sensitivity by Norman Jewison and with the inimitably fine acting by Quaid, MacDowell, Kinnear, and Collete it becomes a finely tuned psychological study. An exceptionally fine film that grows better with each viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good.
Review: Enojyable, thought-provoking movie, but with some major flaws. Firstly, the characters - though engaging - are unrealistic. Andie MacDowell and Dennis Quaid are of course the so called hero's of the film, but A.M. is so annoying that you find it hard to side with her. Greg Kinnear is great as always as is the lady who plays his wife (though she's not terribly appealing either). The movie seems, not intentionally, hell-bent on portraying women as being nagging and annoying, though they do it subtlely enough so that you don't realize whats going on while you're watching it. The guys on the other hand are sympathetic and genuine. This might sound strange considering the movie is a character annalysis, but once you get past the characters themselves the movie is actually really good. The characters are unrealistic and annoying, but their situation is so intriguing and perpetuating that they could have cast Adam Sandler, Carrot Top, Jeanine Gerafolo (spelling?) and Andie MacDowell in it and it still would have been engaging. In short you can't help but imagine yourself in their situation, and so the movie, a very short way into it becomes about you. Its very interesting how they managed this, and perhaps thats not the case for everyone, but thats how i felt about it. Whatever.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Dialogue -- Good Drama
Review: Even though the title may not sound too appealing, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the acting and the written dialogue in this movie. Dennis Quaid and Andie McDowell play this married couple who are shocked by the news of the divorce of two of their best friends. The news of the divorce really tests the friendship between the two couples and cause the married couples to think about what commitment is all about. I liked this movie because the dialogue was very realistic and the movie made me think about what commitment in marriage and friendship is all about. It is an excellent and thought-provoking movie to watch and discuss. If you like movies that deal with important issues about relationships, you'd definitely like this one! I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Movies I almost never saw.
Review: I am so glad that I was up at 4:00am the other morning and I got to see this movie. I think that it is by far the best work that any of the actors have ever done. I have looked for it to be on everyday since but it has not been so I ordered my own copy so that I can wtch it anytime that i want. I strongly suggest that if you are in to movies that allow you to think after you have watched them instead of escape you would be very benefited by this movie. I have not been able to stop thinking about it since I saw it and I trust that you will not be able to either.
Rating:
Summary: Great Writing, Good Cast, Great Film
Review: I loved the original play that the film was based on. I found it to be a wonderfully intelligent exploration of monogamy and marriage that put other like plays and films to shame. The movie does the play justice (although the play is still better). Be warned, this is a VERY "talky" piece. Not necessarily much plot action. It is mainly people sitting around talking about what is important to them. I LOVE THAT. If its not your bag -- you were warned. Casting is just short of great. I can't remember her name, but the blonde is very good, as is Greg Kinnear as the couple who split up. Nice work all around. ... Andie MacDowell ... takes what is a very interesting character and does her usual walk around and whine while looking pretty routine. Awful awful awful. However, this is surprisingly made up for by one of the gutsiest casting choices I've seen in awhile with Dennis Quaid. Anyone who thinks Quaid can't act should see this film. This character is VERY unlike anything he's done before -- much more feminine quality than we've seen before, while remaining strong and overtly masculine. He's articulate and sensitive ....AND HE COOKS FOR A LIVING!!! Anyway, can't go into it all here, but its the best thing he's ever done with the possible exception of THE RIGHT STUFF. The final scene, as with the play, is one of the most important scenes I've watched in a long time. Andie MacDowell even works. Its the most delicately beautiful exploration of love and marriage I've ever seen. Want to spend a "thinky" evening? Watch this with some friends and then have dinner. My wife and I still talk about this film and what it means. But watch this film. Its truly outstanding. I'd give it 5 stars except for Andie MacDowell and slightly watering down the play's original script.
Rating:
Summary: An intelligent, well acted relationship drama...
Review: If you like intelligent, well acted relationship dramas, don't miss this movie.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning play, Dinner with Friends is an insightful drama about four longtime friends and the way they deal with the breakup of 2 of them.
A realistic, well acted portrayal of relationships (both romantic and platonic) as well as their unraveling and strengthening. with excellent performances by Quaid, McDowell, Kinnear, and Collette.
Foodies will also enjoy this film's sincere appreciation of the joys of food, cooking, and travel. If you enjoyed Woody Allen's "Husbands and Wives" and Tom Noonan's "The Wife" you will love this sadly under-appreciated film.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Movie with great performances
Review: it's amazing how they spit out dialogues in rapid fire fashion between each other without missing a beat. The dialogues don't sound rehearsed or forced at all. Plus the fact that they are very true and realistic in terms of expressing the characters' personality, state of mind, and emotion. I would highly recommend this movie to those who are interested in knowing the dynamics in marriage and personal relationship.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Movie with great performances
Review: it's amazing how they spit out dialogues in rapid fire fashion between each other without missing a beat. The dialogues don't sound rehearsed or forced at all. Plus the fact that they are very true and realistic in terms of expressing the characters' personality, state of mind, and emotion. I would highly recommend this movie to those who are interested in knowing the dynamics in marriage and personal relationship.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting
Review: Synopsis: A happily married couple with two sons and great jobs learn some shocking news, that their fellow best friends and spouses, are separating. What ensues is a look at the strength of their marriage, in comparison to the one that is disintegrating before everyone's eyes. Review: A friend and I had a conversation about the state of Hollywood movies today. That for every Swordfish and The Grinch remake (an obnoxious film at that), a small film like Sexy Beast or another will go virtually unnoticed by the likes of big Hollywood business. In today's profit driven society, smart films are finding their home on cable. In "Dinner With Friends", this drama is riveting, not for any kind of suspense, but for a study of what people really are, and what they do in life. Adapted from a stage play, the words seem real right down to the very last word. As the film's writer and director bring the film's situations to your own judgment, as to who these people are and what they can be like. It's a character study that doesn't exploit people, and it lets their actions speak for themselves. Overall, a good film.
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