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The Object of My Affection

R Released Apr 17, 1998 1h 52m Romance Comedy LGBTQ+ List
53% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 51% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
New York City social worker Nina Borowski (Jennifer Aniston) invites her gay friend, George (Paul Rudd), to move into her apartment after he breaks up with his longtime lover, Robert (Tim Daly). Meanwhile, Nina gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby -- but end her relationship with the child's father, boyfriend Vince (John Pankow). As Nina and George live and raise the baby together, the two grow close -- and Nina realizes she's beginning to fall in love with her friend.
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The Object of My Affection

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Critics Consensus

Despite heartfelt performances from Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, The Object of My Affection suffers from too many plot contrivances and frequent turns into rom-com sappiness.

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Critics Reviews

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Joshua Klein AV Club Rudd and Aniston are sad and believable as star-crossed lovers who know they can never be together for reasons beyond their control. Dec 28, 2018 Full Review Peter Travers Rolling Stone Aniston, a friend in need of a solid movie script... finally gets one courtesy of Tony-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein. Dec 28, 2018 Full Review Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post The viewpoint may not be exactly fresh, but [screenwriter Wendy] Wasserstein... delivers the heartfelt message that, male or female, gay or straight, black or white, old or young, the important thing is to pick some one person and make it work. Dec 28, 2018 Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Rudd is enchanting. He brings a succinct and proper attitude to a not-so-needy gay character that easily combats the traditional stereotype. He downplays enough situations and reacts brilliantly in some scenes to allow his character to come through easily Rated: 3/4 Nov 23, 2022 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews There's ultimately little doubt that The Object of my Affection fares best in its entertaining and compulsively watchable first half... Rated: 2/4 Oct 30, 2020 Full Review Barbara Shulgasser Common Sense Media '90s romcom about non-traditional family; cursing. Rated: 2/5 May 21, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (765) audience reviews
Munkhchimeg T Jennifer Aniston ❤️❤️ Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/21/24 Full Review Jeff M The romantic comedy genre is far from my favorite, but there's something about this one that really appeals to me. I question the actions and attitudes some of the characters illustrate and it gets overly complicated from time to time, but almost all is forgiven when you have a cadre of characters that you genuinely care about and for whom you are rooting. I'm not the biggest Aniston fan but this is one of her better performances. And Rudd, a ridiculously underrated actor, is nothing short of fantastic. They are surrounded by a rich group of supporting characters, and the script by genius playwright Wendy Wasserstein has a lot to recommend. This received lukewarm reviews and box office upon its initial release, but I consider it an underrated gem, with a bittersweet ending that could be considered borderline maudlin but I felt was painfully perfect. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/24 Full Review Bull M This film was everything it was advertised to be. Fun, feel-good, non-Oscar-contending chick flick. Another reviewer mentioned dismay at the level of sexual tension. I missed that. There was some wishful thinking on the part of Anniston's character that her gay best friend's sexuality would somehow magically change or that his sexual needs would suddenly lay dormant, but that is all handled well. I like how the gay character is portrayed as a regular, guy next door instead of resorting to effeminate, depressed, dying, wealthy, and other stereotypes. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/04/22 Full Review Audience Member Has a really solid cast, a cheeky premise and some clever flourishes here and there. It's a serviceable enough indie rom-com but it's fairly forgettable. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Story seems a little created or forced, maybe overly convenient but the acting all around was solid. This movie was from 20 years ago and Paul Rudd and Aniston look almost identical today . They may well be the best aging people in all of Hollywood . 2.4. I thought it was funny when Paul Rudd went out of his way to overtly sit like a gay man would . Rudd and Aniston formed a life long friendship seemingly in a few hours which didn’t particularly feel natural Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/21/20 Full Review Audience Member The Object of My Affection (1998) Rom-Com starts off steady, then meanders, finally falling apart by the end...but I still had a fun time. Nevertheless, this film is a ONE view for me. Regardless, Paul Rudd is always enjoyable, so it was worth the watch for his early talents alone. Jennifer Maniston performs her usual customary, comfortable role. -April 2019 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Object of My Affection

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Movie Info

Synopsis New York City social worker Nina Borowski (Jennifer Aniston) invites her gay friend, George (Paul Rudd), to move into her apartment after he breaks up with his longtime lover, Robert (Tim Daly). Meanwhile, Nina gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby -- but end her relationship with the child's father, boyfriend Vince (John Pankow). As Nina and George live and raise the baby together, the two grow close -- and Nina realizes she's beginning to fall in love with her friend.
Director
Nicholas Hytner
Producer
Laurence Mark
Screenwriter
Stephen McCauley, Wendy Wasserstein
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
R (Strong Language|Some Sexuality)
Genre
Romance, Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 17, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 15, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$29.1M
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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