Your Friends & Neighbors (1998)

77% of critics liked it
(57 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(4,786 ratings)

For the follow-up to In the Company of Men, the misogyny-on-parade debut that became an out of nowhere indie hit, auteur Neil LaBute wrote and directed a piece that gives more equal representation to the shortcomings of both genders than his earlier film. Three men stand on one side: Cary (Jason… More For the follow-up to In the Company of Men, the misogyny-on-parade debut that became an out of nowhere indie hit, auteur Neil LaBute wrote and directed a piece that gives more equal representation to the shortcomings of both genders than his earlier film. Three men stand on one side: Cary (Jason Patrick), a womanizing doctor who rehearses make-out lines and keeps his body almost grotesquely ripped; Jerry (Ben Stiller), a self-obsessed theater instructor who chews over every emotion like a morsel of dessert; and Barry (Aaron Eckhart), a man grown soft in his marriage to a woman who can't satisfy him sexually as well as he can himself. On the other side we have three equally well-defined women: Terri (Catherine Keener), a writer/editor whose prefers to keep words out of the bedroom, much to the chagrin of live-in beau Jerry; Mary (Amy Brenneman), a freelance writer whose attempts to find her own sexual fulfillment with both husband Barry and paramour Jerry meet with a similar lack of success; and Cheri (Nastassja Kinski), an art assistant who meets most of the other characters one by one at a gallery but directs her sylph-like affections in an unexpected direction. The lies, double-crosses, and confrontations between these characters resolve into a sinisterly comic indictment of the very idea of romantic fulfillment. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Neil LaBute
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 19, 1998 Wide
On DVD: May 1, 2001
Studio: Gramercy Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, Variety
This honorable follow-up to LaBute's stunning debut, In the Company of Men, which also dissects sexual politics, is well acted by the entire ensemble.
John Haslett Cuff, Globe and Mail
It is superbly executed and, for all its pitilessness, it's an intelligent dramatization of the impact that consumerist values have had on the psyche of the North American middle class at the end of the 20th century.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
With LaBute, you get a filmmaker who cuts to the timeless heart of sexual warfare.
Paul Tatara, CNN.com
The entire thing, from beginning to end, can be boiled down into a three word sentence: 'I hate people.'
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
The film's star is LaBute, a genuine modern movie auteur who ventures behind the tantalizing blurbs on the covers of those trendy men's and women's magazines to find miserable, unhappy people.
, Chicago Tribune
LaBute's characters are just cold, pretty figures striking art film poses while spouting corrosive but predictably theatrical dialogues.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The actors are fine across the board, but the stand-out is Catherine Keener.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
It's both a daring composition and a repelling look at gender warfare.
James Rocchi, Netflix
You will not like Your Friends and Neighbors; it's intense, unflinching and uncomfortable. You won't look away from it, though, and you won't forget the people it showed you for a long time.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
If you can stand to watch Your Friends & Neighbors, you won't forget it.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The uneasiness and ambivalence the men and women in this drama experience with each other reflects the continuing sexual wars in society at large.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
YFAN is graphic without showing anything, incredible yet credible, engaging and morbidly fascinating.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
Without the potential for decency to counterbalance and give context to the cruelty, "Your Friends & Neighbors" becomes a simple study in human depravity.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael S

Neil LaBute's follow up to "In the Company of Men" is another brilliantly vicious and savage dark dramedy... this time focusing on the destruction of a few unhappy couples and the web of "relationships" spawned during and in the aftermath. LaBute is in a… More
Neil LaBute's follow up to "In the Company of Men" is another brilliantly vicious and savage dark dramedy... this time focusing on the destruction of a few unhappy couples and the web of "relationships" spawned during and in the aftermath. LaBute is in a league of his own when it comes to making a film about completely repulsive and unlikeable people and having his film be anything but. He cooks with disturbing material here, but manages to keep it riveting, real, and frequently (uncomfortably) comedic. Strong cast, but Jason Patrick is the standout, giving a career best performance and laying down one of the most unforgettable and disturbing speeches I've heard in the movies. "Your Friends and Neighbors" is an excellent film with A LOT to say. Viewers who can handle the film's harsh subject-matter will be rewarded.
Steven C

Neil LaBute's "Your Friends & Neighbors" is quite possibly the meanest film I have ever seen. These characters are some of, if not, the worst I have ever come across. What makes them worse than, say Hannibal Lecter, is how they stealthily move behind each others… More
Neil LaBute's "Your Friends & Neighbors" is quite possibly the meanest film I have ever seen. These characters are some of, if not, the worst I have ever come across. What makes them worse than, say Hannibal Lecter, is how they stealthily move behind each others backs to wound each other in the worst and most emotionally damaging ways. You should not be treading lightly when you sit down to view this picture. It's a nasty piece of work. So then why is my rating so high? Because it's also a terrific film. The acting is tremendous and LaBute (who is also a playwright) has some insanely fine tuned dialogue. My guess is that if you don't like hard relationship drama's like "Closer" you wont even come across "Your Friends & Neighbors," and I think that those who search it out will find much to admire. Think of this film as what would become of the college kids in Roger Avery's "The Rules of Attraction" once they hit middle age.
Film C

its an ok movie a bit weird and some of the time im not to shore as to what is actually going on really but i guess watchable but isnt that interesting to be honest with not much of a storyline
Arash X

Another Interesting movie by LaBute, & it was the first time that I didn't find Stiller annoying
Stella D

a brutal black comedy about sex and relationships. nearly as painful as todd solondz' happiness and almost as harsh as labute's wicked first feature, in the company of men. there's not a really likeable character in this film. you've been warned
Curtis L

I bought this VHS at random in a dollar bin. It made me want to take a shower for eternity.
Michael G

One of the meanest movies I've ever seen. So yeah, I loved it.
Stephen E

Aside from a few key scenes, "Your Friends & Neighbors" is not as uncomfortable as the other two offerings in Neil LaBute's unofficial trilogy. That being said, it is dark and mean, but delivers its cynicism with a good sense of humor. All actors do a great job,… More
Aside from a few key scenes, "Your Friends & Neighbors" is not as uncomfortable as the other two offerings in Neil LaBute's unofficial trilogy. That being said, it is dark and mean, but delivers its cynicism with a good sense of humor. All actors do a great job, but Jason Patric stands out the most as the sadistic doctor. His "Nobody Actually Likes You" scene is brutal, as well as the infamous locker room monologue.
matt s

I like how LaBute builds tension with just actors. It's something he should remember when signing on to do his next film. He used to be able have a smart, gifted young cast take his words and throw them into an emotional galaxy worth watching. Now, not so much. This is a rough,… More
I like how LaBute builds tension with just actors. It's something he should remember when signing on to do his next film. He used to be able have a smart, gifted young cast take his words and throw them into an emotional galaxy worth watching. Now, not so much. This is a rough, sometimes uncomfortable viewing. And the ending really didn't know what it wanted to do. I wanted Aaron Eckhart's character to flip a lid, but he never did. The great thing about this film is that it pushes buttons and makes your squirm with its brutal honesty, but it has no clear resolution, there is no clear change. This is probably what LaBute wanted, but it's just too cynical, almost a sign of laziness.