"'Party' Pooper"
by Scott Mantz

"The Anniversary Party"
Alan Cumming, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Directed by Alan Cumming
and Jennifer Jason Leigh

Still life! Jennifer Beals, Alan Cumming, and Jennifer Jason Leigh exchange gifts in "The Anniversary Party"

It is a cold, hard fact that while one person may be able to get along with a bunch of people, those people may not be able to get along with each other. That's the case with "The Anniversary Party," the directorial debut of actors and co-writers Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh. While the film certainly proves that Cumming and Leigh have a lot to say, its depressing, contrived, and self-indulgent tone may force people outside the Los Angeles area to tear up their RSVP.

After a yearlong separation, author-turned-filmmaker Joe Therrian (Alan Cumming) and his actress-wife Sally (Jennifer Jason Leigh) have reconciled their differences and decide to throw a bash to celebrate their sixth anniversary. They invite all their shallow, self-absorbed friends and colleagues, but the party starts on a bad note with the arrival of their narrow-minded neighbors. The already touchy mood goes from bad to worse when a drug-induced binge digs up some buried emotions, and Sally and Joe are once again forced to ponder their future.

"The Anniversary Party" feels like Cumming and Leigh had a party of their own, invited their closest friends, and filmed whatever happened. Unfortunately, not much does, and what little does happen might be too specialized for audiences outside of LA to relate to it. Not only are these show-biz partygoers too pathetic and self-absorbed to have any redeeming qualities (hey, that's Hollywood), but most of what they complain about doesn't seem all that important in the relative scheme of things.

Actually, the highlights of "The Anniversary Party" belong to the actors who've kept a low profile in recent years. Jennifer Beals ("Flashdance") not only puts in a strong performance, but she rises above the rest of the cast to be the most likable character in the movie. Phoebe Cates ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Gremlins") returns to the big screen and plays a former actress who gave up her career to raise a family. If that sounds familiar, it should. Not only is it based on her, but her real-life husband Kevin Kline plays her husband in the movie.

"The Anniversary Party" deteriorates from a mildly amusing dark comedy into a mishmash of pretentious and overly dramatic escapades. Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh may have been trying to make a film that reflected who they really were, but with friends like these, who needs enemies? Take my word for it. If you get an invitation to this party, tell them you can't make it, and send them a gift instead.

Back to Scott's New Movie Reviews

Review Archives