Friends with Money

Aroview: Diverting relationship-drama skips through dir. Holofcener's (LOVELY AND AMAZING) perennial wry life lessons, presenting the tribulations of three Los Angeles couples -ranging from happy-rich to sad-unfulfilled - and their single stray friend (Jennifer Aniston) who has just given up a good job as a teacher to become a housemaid.

Among her worried pals are a fashion designer (McDormand) with a midlife crisis and a husband everyone takes as gay; two argumentative screenwriters (Keener, Isaacs); and a wealthy philanthropic couple (Cusack, Germann). They all eventually conspire to lever Aniston into a disagreeable relationship with a personal trainer (Caan), but clearly all have greater problems of their own. Like an LA version of Woody Allen, this proffers a genuinely witty take on modern lives, even if the central character played by Aniston fades into the background. Songs by Rickie Lee Jones contribute a nice heartfelt tone.

NZ International Film Festival 2006

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