HotToastyRag
Bring your Kleenexes! Okay, you've been warned.In The Object of my Affection, two actors whose careers have previously been tied to teen-oriented comedies are finally given the chance to show the world they can act. Paul Rudd plays the male lead, a gay man who cares deeply for his female friend. His sensitivity and subtlety in the role is incredible. In a decade when including a gay character in a movie usually went hand-in-hand with a flamboyant performance, it's wonderful to see him give his character a realistic, subdued performance.Jennifer Aniston, previously associated with flighty behavior in a coffee shop, has real challenges in this movie. Her character is involved with a less-than-stellar boyfriend, and when she finds out she's pregnant, she has to decide whether to return to her boyfriend, or go it alone. And while she's deciding, she just might develop some inappropriate feelings for her sympathetic, caring friend.This is a heavy drama, and definitely not one to watch if you've just had your heart broken. Even if you're not normally inclined to watch something this heavy, consider stretching your boundaries for this one. Paul Rudd's performance is worth it.
studioAT
Of all the 'Friends' cast it is Jennifer Aniston who has gone on to have the most successful film career, not least helped by the fact that she has found her niche making romantic comedies like this one.That doesn't mean to say that they've all been good. While better than 'Picture Perfect' I didn't find much to enjoy in this film that tries to be both serious and funny at times, and doesn't do either well.Aniston and Rudd have good chemistry but yet are upstaged every time Allison Janney appears on camera.It's a passable enough film, but not one I'd rush to see again.
Raul Faust
Thought the story is light, it delivers entertainment and a good time. The casting is very spontaneous, the actors weren't that known back there but were good enough to act decently. The story is quite original, I have never seen other movie where the girl falls in love with a gay man. The plot would be better if these kind of people really existed; we know that in real life people are prejudiced, intolerant and fight for anything (specially we, men). In this film, people accept things very easily, men don't dispute women, parents have no problem in the daughter living with a homossexual and biological father has no problem with the "new dad". Those things create lots of fray in real life.So that's it; an original comedy not much funny, but satisfying enough to don't disappoint the viewer.
Gary Murphy
In order for me to get properly engaged in a movie, I have to relate to most of the major players. As such, I tend to shy away from gay-themed movies, because I just can't relate to the characters and their situations. This movie is different.I found all of the characters to be extremely well-written. There was a lot of depth-of-character in all of the parts, both major and minor ones. This movie stayed away from clichés and took a fresh look at the complexities of love and the expectations that we have about our relationships. Perhaps the best compliment is that I had no idea how this movie was going to end. That's rare in modern romance movies.The acting was exceptional as well. Paul Rudd seems to be taking shallow roles in shallow comedies like "Ron Burgundy" lately, but it's clear from this that he can engage in serious acting. I wasn't terribly impressed with Jennifer Anniston's acting in "Friends", but it's clear from this film - and subsequent work - that she is capable of acting with considerable depth.I was quite surprised at the relatively low rating from the IMDb crowd. It is quite possible that is was marketed wrong. I watched this on HBO and it was billed as a romantic comedy. No way. This is a very dramatic movie, with some deeply sad and heartfelt moments.I recommend this movie very highly if you are interested in character-centered, movies with complex, expressive emotions.
AD
