The Anniversary Party

written, produced and directed by Alan Cumming & Jennifer Jason Leigh

This is a strange film – not because the storyline is particularly peculiar (actually, there isn’t much of a storyline), but because it’s a whole bunch of other ‘stuff’ that holds it together.

I find Alan Cumming annoying. Don’t ask me why, I just do. So the fact that he was the joint director and producer of this film and cast himself in the joint lead-role should have warned me off watching it. Don’t let anyone say that I don’t give films and people a chance!

In actual fact, this isn’t a bad film. It just feels a bit too much like hard work to watch it all the way through. Some of the conversational interplay and exaggerated contrasts between characters is really good. Indeed, it’s the tension that constantly simmers throughout - over neighbourly disputes at the lowest level, yet between Sally and Joe, the lead characters, at the highest level – that captures the viewer.

Set in the context of an anniversary party, characters are introduced as they arrive and developed as they become more and more inebriated and, ultimately, drugged-up. (It’s the drug taking that gets this film its high rating.) Sally and Joe (the couple celebrating their anniversary) clearly have a less that stable relationship and the presence of Joe’s best friend, Gina, a rather attractive female in whom he seems to confide every last detail, threatens to undermine the whole event; clearly Sally isn’t too impressed. Gywneth Paltrow makes an interesting contribution in all of this, playing the part of a seemingly naïve and simple wannabe actress, Skye, who surprises everyone with a variety of knowledge and insight and the character to convey it. Needless to say, Paltrow performs brilliantly and could, perhaps, be identified as one of the best reasons to watch.

Where does it go and how does it end? Well, I’m not sure. Partly because I’ve been slack in writing this review (a good few weeks have passed since we watched it!) but more because the story itself doesn’t seem too sure. The death of Joe’s father towards the end (yes, that’s a spoiler, sorry) seems almost to be thrown in to justify a further ten minutes. Would I recommend this film? Well, yes, I think so. Certainly not as entertainment, because that’s not what this is. But as an interesting blend of characters, each playing with themes and issues that are well contrasted and mixed in with everyone else’s.