Aniston shines with a little help from her friends

TV star reveals broader range

MOVIE REVIEW

By Vanessa Valera, Special to the On-line Forty-Niner

April 23,1998

"The Object of My Affection," loosely based on the novel by Stephen McCauley, effectively and warmly chronicles the rollercoaster ride commonly known as unrequited love, '90s style.

 

Nina Borowski (Jennifer Aniston) is a social worker for a Brooklyn community center. Paul Rudd ("Clueless") plays George Hanson, a teacher at a nearby elementary school.

 

After the two meet at a dinner party, George, being jilted by his boyfriend of four years (Tim Daly), moves in with Nina, marking one of the most important events of their lives.

 

George and Nina quickly become good friends. So good that Nina falls in love with George, who is, if you didn't already know, gay.

 

The problem is that Nina's beau, Vince, played by John Pankow ("Mad About You"), is naturally in love with Nina.

 

The film explores that terrible ache felt when the object of one's affection does not return those feelings with the same intensity.

 

It also consistently asks how dependent love is on sexual passion.

 

In addition, it touches on some of today's prevalent social issues, such as homosexual and hetero-homosexual friendships and contemporary family structures.

 

"The Object of My Affection," directed by Nicholas Hytner ("The Madness of King George"), is not a "chick-flick" by any means.

 

Anyone who has ever loved, but not been loved back, can relate.

 

Aniston plays a credible Nina. No traces of her "Friends" character, Monica, surface anywhere in the picture.

 

In fact, the audience is given a chance to witness a wider range of emotions than is usually seen from the actress. Nina gives Aniston an opportunity to flex some of her unused acting muscle.

 

Rudd plays an endearing and believable George. It's a pleasure to see a gay man portrayed without conflict about who he is, but rather pondering the age-old question of what he wants.

 

Despite an emotionally ambivalent ending, "The Object of My Affection" is a refreshing change of pace in the homogeneous world of romantic comedies.