Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Tom Murray Dinner with Friends is a very thoughtful investigation of the relationships among friends and how little we really know about the people whom we love. Two couples have been best friends for many years; Gabe and Karen introduced Tom and Beth to each other. Now, twelve years after their marriage, Tom and Beth are divorcing. The film studies all of the possible interrelationships: the men, the women, the opposite gender spouses and the couples, before and during the breakup, and hints at the probable situation afterward. The acting is superb all around. It is obviously a stage play done as a movie but, being predominantly a dialogue movie, it works well.

lauraflo One could see these people , especially as the main problem in the movie revealed itself, exposed down to their raw inner selves. I could relate so much to different aspects of each of the characters--either myself, my significant other(s), and people I have known through out my life. It was almost taken, in bits and pieces, out of my own life and my own values, thoughts, beliefs, etc., mixed into a different order and made into a movie. I expect others feel the same when watching it. I almost felt nakedly exposed during certain parts. It was great.It was riveting as it unfolded, tho not without a few light hearted moments, and not with out a subtle humour to it. The person of my family who likes action movies wasn't especially interested, but my 16 yr. old daughter ,who appreciates the interplay of relationships and people (as I do) even if going thru a breakdown, found it as fascinating as I did.Well worth watching, even more than once. Sort of an insightful primer on friendships, relationships, and marriage---not spelled out, but played out thru the dialog. Perhaps should be required watching for couples, and friends. Congrats to the author of this fine piece, as well as to the actors who brought it to life for us.

Sklanskyjr After having seen this movie about four times I have to say that this movie is a biting look into the life of 4 friends that may make you uncomfortable, or hit you right where it hurts. Quaid and MacDowell and Kinnear and Collette are two married couples who have been friends, shared lives, stories and the raising of their families for 12 years. Collette drops the bomb, alone, on Quaid and MacDowell, that Kinnear is leaving her. The movie unravels the friendships by exposing that neither Quaid or MacDowell like Kinnear and Collette very much,individually, after their secrets and lies are exposed. I think true friends overcome, and real friends fall by the wayside, as in this movie.Great acting, dialog, direction, etc..But a intense, deeply emotional film that may cause you to look at your friends and your spouse differently. And ask the question: Could it all fall apart?

jotix100 Having seen Donald Margulies' play when it opened in New York, I was interested in what Norman Jewison, the director, had done with it for the screen version. It helps that Mr. Margulies did his own adaptation, although, it appears to this viewer, the stage version was more satisfying. Not that there's anything wrong with the film, it's just that the cast in the play was far superior than these well intentioned actors we see in the movie. Mr. Margulies has tried to open his play, but it just doesn't go anywhere.The basic premise, and a caveat to good friends, is to stay away from "fixing up" prospective marriage partners, as things in life are a bit more complicated than a good ending in a book, a play, a movie, or human relations. Karen and Gabe are happily married. They conjure to arrange a meeting with Beth, a painter, and Tom, a lawyer. Basically, the idea of having mutual friends meet one another, might not be bad, but in reality things should be let alone and let nature takes its course. The bright idea back fires on Karen, who, upon hearing at the beginning of the film that her best friend, Beth, is divorcing Tom, is visibly upset. She feels betrayed by these two people she was instrumental in bringing together.It's hard for both, Gabe and Karen, to think where they went wrong in their match making roles. They never take into consideration that Beth is totally wrong for Tom, and vice versa. The problem is that this couple don't think that Beth and Tom have found new partners in what appears to be a much solid relationships than what they had together. Karen and Gabe are crushed, but in reality, not everything is perfect in their own marriage. We get hints that yes, they are not completely happy, but they have decided to stay in the marriage out of decency and out of duty to their two boys, which is what Beth and Tom have failed to do. Call them old fashioned, but one has to give Karen and Gabe a lot of credit for at least trying to stay together as a family.Andie MacDowell is Karen; she is a beautiful woman. In the movie, Ms. MacDowell appears a bit distant. She loved to bring people together and resents their friends separation. Ms. MacDowell's Karen comes across as a hard and judgmental person. Dennis Quaid tries hard to give Gabe warmth. Perhaps he comes across as the best of the four principals. Toni Collette's Beth is an enigma until her confrontation with Karen at the restaurant, then, we see a woman that is not shy in telling her best friend off as she embarks in a new relationship. Greg Kinnear is Tom. He is perhaps the weakest link in the quartet, as he is perhaps, not treated fairly by Karen, or Gabe.The movie remains a bit theatrical, but Norman Jewison has done wonders with the material.