The Object of My Affection

Rating:
Summary: A Thoroughly Pleasant Diversion
Review: I have to admit that this is a favorite movie of mine and I'm thrilled that it's finally coming to DVD. It's hardly challenging. It's not political. There's nothing outstanding about the filmmaking technique. It's simply a pleasant diversion, and as such, I enjoy it a great deal. And while it goes out of its way not to offend anyone, it does break some new ground in terms of mainstream Hollywood movies.

The story centers around the friendship of a gay schoolteacher, George (Paul Rudd), who is dumped by his boyfriend. (...)

It's a charming movie, with terrific performances throughout. Rudd and Anniston share terrific chemistry together. White is appropriately sleazy. Allison Janney and Alan Alda as Nina's sister and brother-in-law offer hilarious support. And Nigel Hawthorne as Paul's mentor, provides the movie with heart and soul. Pulitzer-prize winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein adapts Stephen McCauley's novel, and the script is solid. Nicholas Hytner's direction is assured. The movie is filled with laughs and genuine emotion. The scene in the gym where Nina confronts Stephen packs incredible power.

Some have complained that George is too perfect and too nice--that the filmmakers were so concerned about having the mainstream audience accept him as a character that they went out of his way to make him bland and inoffensive. There might be a little truth in that, but I think Rudd's performance makes the character feel genuine at all times. (...)

However, the one thing that really pleases me about this movie is that it was the first mainstream Hollywood movie that allowed its gay character to be gay. (I exclude "Torch Song Trilogy" from this analysis as TST was about gay relationships.) Up to this point, gay characters were everybody's best friend or problem. Window dressing to offer witty banter or to show us how liberal our heterosexual leads were. The gay characters were only gay because we were told they were--they were never allowed to have a romance of their own. Their love lives were always non-existent. The fact that George not only meets another guy and dates him. They have a genuine romantic and sexual relationship, something that most mainstream Hollywood movies rarely addressed with their gay male characters, unless as a "problem."

I have no idea what, if any extras, will be on the DVD. Frankly, I don't care. I'll be happy enough just to have it on DVD. But, once it has come out (as it were), I will revisit this review to discuss said extras (should there be some of note).

If you like this movie, then I strongly recommend: "Trick", "The Broken Hearts Club", "Broadway Damage", "Just One Time", "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss", "Torch Song Trilogy", "9 to 5" (no gay content, but a very funny comedy), and (begrudgingly as it is not nearly as good as the other movies on this list as it is very coy about the homosexuality of its characters), "In & Out".

Review (C)2001 Joe Edkin

Rating:
Summary: A lovely movie
Review: I have watched The Object of My Affection numerous times (they're always running it on the ABC Family Channel), and I have yet to tire of it. It is sweet, touching, funny, and well performed.

Jennifer Aniston is perfectly cast as the lead character, Nina Borowski, and gives an excellent performance that making the viewer feel what she's feeling. Paul Rudd, as her roommate and eventual love interest, is very appealing too. (In my opinion, he doesn't really seem gay, but then again he doesn't really need to. As long as the viewer just accepts the fact that he IS, it works.) John Pankow is great as Nina's irritating boyfriend, Vince. And of course, Nigel Hawthorne does a wonderful job as Rodney. Big surprise.

The best scene in the film is a scene where Nina's overbearing sister, Constance (Allison Janney), descends on Nina and George along with her equally annoying husband (Alan Alda) and daughter (Lauren Pratt). It is so funny, and so well acted.

All in all, The Object Of My Affection rates five stars in my book. Granted, there are some clunky bits in the script (as mentioned in the editorial review), and some bits that require suspension of belief. But those things are easy to ignore, and more than likely, you'll want to watch this film over and over again.

Rating:
Summary: A Funny, Touching Movie
Review: Jennifer Aniston stars as Nina, a social worker who invites a recently dumped gay friend (Paul Rudd) to move in with her while he gets back on his feet. George and Nina begin to bond during late-night talks over big bowls of ice cream, and soon Nina realizes she's falling in love with him, despite the fact that he's gay and she has a boyfriend, Vince (John Pankow). Nina breaks up with Vince, but soon discovers she is pregnant. Instead of telling Vince, Nina asks George to help her raise the baby.

George cares deeply for Nina and agrees, but as time passes, he realizes that he needs to see men again. He attends a conference with his former lover Robert (Tim Daly), where he runs into old friend Rodney (Nigel Hawthorne) and his new boytoy, Paul (Amo Gulinello). Paul and George immediately hit it off and begin a relationship, much to Nina's dismay. Can they all find love and happiness, or will they find themselves alone in the end?

This movie was one of the first gay-themed movies I ever saw. I remember crying my way through it because I wasn't out yet and it touched something inside me. This movie played a big part in my decision to come out. I made all my friends watch it and gauged their reaction. The story of the relationship between George and Nina helped me explain about being gay.

Aside from its educational uses, the movie is a wonderfully written and acted story. Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd have a real chemistry and the story is unflinchingly realistic. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: About time The Object Of My Affection comes to DVD
Review: The Object Of My Affection is a great Flick. I am so excited it's finally on DVD. This movie takes place in New York City with our former Twin Tower buildings as the beautiful backdrop. The movie is about a women named Nina (Jennifer Aniston) who falls in love with her roommate George (Paul Rudd), but there is one problem ... he is gay. George decides to move out and move in with Nina after his boyfriend Joley tells him he is seeing another guy. Nina who has a boyfriend finds herself falling in love with George and soon she finds out she is pregnant but decides she wants to raise the child with George instead. George finally starts to fall for Nina, but after a weekend trip with his x-boyfriend Joley, George soon finds himself falling for a guy named Paul, and soon there is a decision that forces George to decide between Nina and Paul. I know it sound like a too much drama, but this is a movie worth watching, I will not say anymore other than this is a Great movie that will make you laugh and bring tears to your eyes as well. Im glad to see The Object Of My Affection has made it to DVD. Buy it it is a great flick that breaks down the walls of sexuality as you can not choose who you can fall in love with, true love just happens. (...)

Rating:
Summary: A must see
Review: This is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I watched this one over and over again and I can't get enough of it. Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd are just adorable, the ( gay themed) story is magnificient,there is a great balance between comedy and tragedy, everything in this movie is worth the five stars.

Rating:
Summary: Makes you want to Laugh and Cry at once.
Review: When I rented this movie, I thought "Ah a Jennifer Aniston movie...she's gonna play the shallow but nice girl, gonna meet a guy...etc." In other words: Boy meets girl, girl likes guy, guy likes girl. Girl's confused, guy goes off, girl is sad, they come back together and that's the end. I was very off base. This is a sweet romantic dramedy (comedy/drama) that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time. Paul Rudd plays a gay school teacher, who (after finding out his current relationship is over) moves in with his new friend (Aniston). When she discovers that she is pregnant, she decides that she wants Rudd to be the father figure for the child...which is not what her boyfriend wants. This intricate story is so delicately done, that (unlike most movies) it seems to be glass. The supporting characters are wonderfully lovable/loathsome. No revelations seem too spontaneous, but are eased into, making it a lovely and enjoyable film. One of those movies that makes you want to be in the characters world and shout "YOU SHOULD BE TOGETHER!"

I highly recommend that you add it to your collection, you will not regret it.