Unaffected:
Object Leaves Audience Wanting

If you remember my review of Jennifer Aniston's first film, Picture Perfect you know how I feel about her. I, like many guys in America, watch the television show "Friends" every week to see her (and Courtney Cox, too). While I didn't care for her last movie, I resolved to put it out of my mind and give her another chance.

In The Object of My Affection, Aniston plays Nina, an emotionally confused social worker who dispenses advice easier than she follows it. Her love life is unfulfilling and takes a decidedly unusual turn when she gets a roommate: George (Paul Rudd), a gay teacher who is having problems of his own.

George has just been dumped by his boyfriend and, through a convenient set of circumstances, accepts Nina's offer to live at her place until he can get back on his feet. The two soon become inseparable pals who do everything together. When Nina discovers that she is pregnant, she makes the decision to dump her boyfriend (John Pankow) and raise the child with George.

I went to Object aware that Rudd plays a homosexual love interest for Aniston, but it never occurred to me that the movie would move beyond a sappy theme of unrequited love. In fact, the first half of the movie was so predictable and shallow I found it nearly unbearable. As light and unfulfilling as the first half was, the second half was equally depressing and heavy-handed.

Just as Nina begins to admit her feelings for George, he takes off for the weekend with his former lover (Tim Daly). The weekend does not progress as either expects, however, and George ends up with another man, a young actor named Paul (Amo Gulinello). Here the story takes on a tone far removed from the light, romantic comedy. Instead, George's love-life takes center stage. If it is intended to be romantic, I failed to relate to it.

This is the crux of the problem with the film. While it attempts to be a quirky romantic comedy from Nina's point of view, the subject of George's story is handled in a very serious manner. The two stories do not merge well, and the film soon loses its romantic tone. I, having gone to see Aniston, felt cheated. This is not Nina's story as much as it is George's.

Nevertheless, Aniston and Rudd both deliver excellent performances. Aniston breaks from her sweet "girl next door" image to play someone with real problems without easy answers. Rudd shines as George, making him both believable and sympathetic. He never wavers, and it is easy to accept his portrayal even though -- perhaps because -- he doesn't resort to stereotypes.

Despite two strong performances, the story doesn't offer anything as a romance. As a serious film about homosexuality, it may have had something to offer if it stayed with George's point of view. In this case, trying to be something to everyone, the film will fail to please anyone. This film is rated R, due to adult themes, sexuality, and language.

MY RATING: 2 out of 10.

RATED:
RUN TIME: 111 min.

Unaffected: Object Leaves Audience Wanting

Unaffected:
Object Leaves Audience Wanting