Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alan Cumming, Phoebe Cates

Celebrity couple Joe and Sally Therrian are going through yet another rough stage in their six-year marriage: while Joe's novels have been climbing higher and higher on the best-seller lists, Sally's ...( read more  read more... )film career has been steadily sinking into oblivion. Joe's been given the rights to cast and direct the screenplay of his latest book, but rather than resurrect Sally's career by casting her in the lead role, he's given it to Sally's rival, Skye Davidson. Even worse, he's invited Skye to their anniversary bash. Will the marriage, or anything else for that matter, survive the party?

Flixster Users

56% liked it

1,301 ratings

Critics

60% liked it

111 critics

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alan Cumming

Release Date: June 8, 2001

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DVD Release Date: January 15, 2002

Stats: 246 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (246)


  • May 19, 2009
    The Anniversary Party was written/directed/and staring Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
    The story revolves around a famous Hollywood couple. He is a novelist, turned director. She is an actress. They have a shin dig at their house, celebrating their six year wedding anniver...( read more)sary. Sex, alcohol,drugs, relationships, the way we communicate with the people around us.
    This was a good movie, but so frustrating. I really enjoyed the story and the acting was great. I just felt like something was missing and I thought that they could have ended it better. But over all, I have to say that I enjoyed it.
    The cast in this movie is nothing short of stellar. Alan Cummings, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Kevin Kline, John C. Riley, Jane Adams, Parker Posey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Beals, and Michael Panes.
    Pheobe Cates and Kevin Kline are one of my favorite Hollywood couples. So I got a kick out of seeing them playing the married acting couple. It was also great that they used their real kids to play Jack and Evie. You could sense the chemistry between Greta and Kevin, in a real father/daughter relationship. I think Kevin Kline is a brilliant actor, I just wish that had been showcased more. I think it's great that Pheobe and Jennifer ( Who both still look fabulous) have remained such good friends, since Fast Times.
    There were some things I would have liked to change in this film. For being Alan Cumming's third directed feature film and Jennifer Jason Leigh's first, I have to hand it to them. The Anniversary party is a good story and a pretty decent movie.
  • September 18, 2008
    My favorite screenplay of all time.

    *Review coming soon*
  • November 20, 2006
    I really liked it the first time I saw it. Not so much the second time.
  • October 25, 2008
    There's something quite unusual about this movie. It's like the Big Chill for the new millenium.
  • December 10, 2007
    A favorite!
  • December 28, 2008
    Shows very different people meeting up and conflicts are interesting to be acknowledged (in the 90s these seemed more like novelty though) but it seems there is too much effort to show them. Not bad though.
  • October 5, 2008
    It was okay. Great cast..but it was a bit odd.
  • July 13, 2008
    Need to see the entirety of this
  • June 10, 2008
    Not at all interested
  • June 6, 2008
    wow i have just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie...this is nothing special but its pretty good 2 see..i think that its nice 2 see alan cumming (who played nightcrawler in X-Men 2, the tv show tin man as the man without a brain, the mask part 2 the ...( read more)baby 1..nd some other tv shows n movies)...both him n jennifer jason-leigh both do a good job of directing this Drama movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie because it gives you shocks, twists,turns throughout this movie...this is a good movie, its nothing special but its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie...

Critic Reviews


June 22, 2001
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

If digital looks like this and makes it possible for such funny and intimate chamber pieces to come into existence, then bring on the digital movies. full review

June 22, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A cool and intelligent look at a lifestyle where smart people are required to lead their lives according to dumb rules. full review

June 21, 2001
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Has a loose, improvisatory feel that rings true.

June 15, 2001
David Edelstein, Slate

I had a hard time maintaining interest in (let along liking) any of these self-involved Hollywood twerps. full review

June 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

They turn what could have been an acting stunt into an intimate and compelling study of bruised emotions. full review

June 8, 2001
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

A riveting, caffeinating study of marriage. full review

View more The Anniversary Party reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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