The Anniversary Party (2001)
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60% of critics liked it
(111 reviews) -
53% of users liked it
(6,329 ratings)
In this Dogma 95-inspired first feature for acclaimed performers Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming, the two star as Joe and Sally Therrian, a couple who have recently reconciled after a yearlong separation, and who decide to throw a sixth anniversary party in their honor. They invite a bevy of… More In this Dogma 95-inspired first feature for acclaimed performers Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming, the two star as Joe and Sally Therrian, a couple who have recently reconciled after a yearlong separation, and who decide to throw a sixth anniversary party in their honor. They invite a bevy of Hollywood types, including Skye Davidson (Gwyneth Paltrow), a young, beautiful, Ecstasy-pushing actress appointed to play a character based on Sally in the new feature film based on Joe's successful novel. Also featured are Cal and Sophia Gold (played by real-life marrieds Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates), the former a co-star of Sally's and the latter her best friend who has given up the business to raise a family; Mac (John C. Reilly), the director of the new film and his actress wife Clair (Jane Adams), who has continued working after the recent birth of their child; Judy and Jerry Adams (Parker Posey and John Benjamin Hickey), the Therrians' managers; and Gina (Jennifer Beals), Joe's ex-girlfriend, who is often regarded as his first big love. Things are complicated when their contentious neighbors (Mina Badie and Denis O'Hare) make an appearance, and a mystery gift causes the event to unravel over the course of one long evening. The film was also written by Cumming and Leigh, another first for both actors. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alan Cumming
- Written By
- Alan Cumming, Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 8, 2001 Wide
- On DVD
- Jan 15, 2002
- Studio
- Fine Line Features
Critic Reviews
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Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Too formlessly turgid.
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James Berardinelli, ReelViews
The acting is what makes this picture worth framing.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The best thing that one can say about The Anniversary Party is that it raises more questions about its central characters than it can possibly answer -- which may weaken it as a drama but not as a search for truth.
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Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
The result is something like being stuck at an audition for someone else's play, which you haven't read, won't invest in, and don't care too much about.
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John Hartl, Seattle Times
What distinguishes The Anniversary Party from the movies/lives that inspired it is the dead-on quality of much of the writing and acting.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Alan Cumming
as Joe Therrian
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Jennifer Jason Leigh
as Sally Therrian
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Jane Adams (II)
as Clair Forsyth
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Mina Badie
as Monica Rose
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Jennifer Beals
as Gina Taylor
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Phoebe Cates
as Sophia Gold
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John Benjamin Hickey
as Jerry Adams
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Kevin Kline
as Cal Gold
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Denis O'Hare
as Ryan Rose
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Gwyneth Paltrow
as Skye Davidson
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Parker Posey
as Judy Adams
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John C. Reilly
as Mac Forsyth
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Mary Lynn Rajskub
as Mary-Lynn
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Michael Panes
as Levi Panes
- Matt Malloy
