The ambitious The Anniversary Party is an atmospheric clone to Lawrence Kasden's impeccable film The Big Chill. Much like The Big Chill, co-directors, co-writers and co-stars Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming try to invoke the nostalgic ambivalence of attractive adults finding their way as they tackle the stagnation of life's road blocks such as experiencing marital strife, drug use, materialistic consumption, pending parenthood, infidelity, etc. Although Leigh and Cumming try to parlay this project as a contemporary and glossy version of Kasden's heralded ensemble piece, The Anniversary Party is a hollow and temperate exercise in Method Acting 101 with a who's who of notable and collectable actors standing around with pseudo-purpose as they engage in the latest posturing baby boomer babble drama.
As filmmakers, both Leigh and Cumming invite an ecstatic style to their filmmaking (shot on digital video) that gives their project a refined, upbeat feel. They have a sense for capturing mood and tone that most indie films have in their arsenal of characteristics. The storyline, however, feels deliberately stagey. Conveniently set in the confines of the Hollywood backdrop, Leigh and Cumming star as a couple in turmoil trying to cope with the stagnant six year marriage that has ruled their lives. Cumming, a novelist and Leigh, an "aging" 30-something actress, are in the midst of reconciling after being separated for quite some time. While dealing with this phase in their lives, they are surrounded by a cast of problematic pals that may or may not impact their fragile union.
And so like a needle and thread, we get a cast of proven performers such as Kevin Kline (coincidentally a Big Chill player), Phoebe Cates, Gwyneth Paltrow, John C. Reilly and Parker Posey who weave in and out in a clothing of conflict if you will. And because the film sets itself in the backdrop of hedonistic Hollywood, we are to accept the dysfunctional diatribe of this good-looking, talented group as the gospel truth. But this only reinforces what we already know about this whole disillusioned world of Make Believe and the folks who live in it without a clue or conscience.
Basically, The Anniversary Party is a trivial study about pretty people with petty problems. We are never really intrigued by the dilemmas or the convictions of these misguided but manicured misfits. Subplots involving Leigh's over-the-hill thirtysomething actress becoming envious over Paltrow's twentysomething youthfulness as a budding star pretty much sums up the standard proceedings that overtake this eccentric but dyspeptic drama. Leigh, Cumming and company invite you to The Anniversary Party but the question remains...is it worth staying around to enjoy?
Frank rates this film: **1/2 stars
