Dinner with Friends (2001)

88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
40% of users liked it
(893 ratings)

A happily married couple discover their friends are not as happy as they thought, and they begin to wonder how sound their own relationship can be, in this made-for-cable adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Donald Margulies. Gabe (Dennis Quaid) and Karen (Andie MacDowell) are a pair of… More A happily married couple discover their friends are not as happy as they thought, and they begin to wonder how sound their own relationship can be, in this made-for-cable adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Donald Margulies. Gabe (Dennis Quaid) and Karen (Andie MacDowell) are a pair of wedded food writers who more than a decade ago introduced their close friends Tom (Greg Kinnear) and Beth (Toni Collette). Tom and Beth fell in love and got married, but one night as Gabe and Karen are making dinner, they receive startling news from Beth -- Tom has left her for another woman, and the two are filing for divorce. Gabe and Karen soon feel as if they are being forced to take sides in the heated battle between Tom and Beth, and as the combative couple separates and both parties move on to new relationships, Gabe and Karen find themselves taking a long, hard look at their own marriage -- and they're not sure how happy they are with what they find. Directed by Norman Jewison, Dinner With Friends was produced for the HBO premium cable network, where it premiered on August 11, 2001. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Norman Jewison
Written By: Donald Marguiles
Genres: Drama, Television, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 11, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Jan 22, 2002
Studio: HBO Video

Critic Reviews

Bruce Fretts, Entertainment Weekly
Astringently witty and ultimately heart shattering, ''Dinner With Friends'' is an expertly prepared gourmet feast in a world of TV dinners.
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
There are moments of interesting honesty, and the players get to enjoy some meaty roles - especially Quaid, nicely underplaying one of the least showiest roles he's had in years.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...the performances are all note-perfect.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Would be better filmed as a play, but as it is, is a wonderfully performed relationship drama
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
As an adult drama, Dinner With Friends is apt enough at exploring late-thirtysomething angst and crisis, well acting and paced with enough momentum to keep the story from dragging.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Norman Jewison's beautifully acted film is a tour de force with verbal fireworks, emotional surprises, and substantive insights into friendship, marriage, and divorce.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Red L

Perhaps I am not enough of an intellectual, but I had difficulties with this movie. I find the discussion of what keeps a marriage fresh an interesting topic, but I did not find the behaviour of the four main characters useful as a learning exercise, nor super entertaining as… More
Perhaps I am not enough of an intellectual, but I had difficulties with this movie. I find the discussion of what keeps a marriage fresh an interesting topic, but I did not find the behaviour of the four main characters useful as a learning exercise, nor super entertaining as entertainment.
Alice S

Excellent script, performances, and concept, but despite all the deep emotions and intellectual rationalizations, I still found the story a little reductive. Normally I put no stock in how "likeable" a character is, but for realistic relationship dramas like this,… More
Excellent script, performances, and concept, but despite all the deep emotions and intellectual rationalizations, I still found the story a little reductive. Normally I put no stock in how "likeable" a character is, but for realistic relationship dramas like this, <i>I</i> need to see what the lovers and friends see in each other. How do these people all wind up with happy endings?
Sunil J

Overdramatic and boring. Doesn't really bring anything new to relationship movies.
Leo L

A favorite. Fantastic film about a group of friends dealing with love, relationship, family, and friendship. Brilliant!