★ 6 / 10
In 1992, America had embraced Kenneth Branagh for
DocTerminus
in 1992, America had embraced Kenneth Branagh for his creative work. With the constant comparisons to Laurence Olivier, Branagh smartly tackled many diverse…
in 1992, America had embraced Kenneth Branagh for his creative work. With the constant comparisons to Laurence Olivier, Branagh smartly tackled many diverse film styles so as not to be boxed into being _"The Shakespeare guy"_. His third film is Peters Friends which would compare more with Woody Allen instead of William Shakespeare.
A group of 30 year old friends gather to celebrate their friendship from their theater years at University. The screenplay is by American actress/comedian Rita Rudner and her husband Martin Bergman. They are able to bring a unique perspective to the high British environments and phobias. To top it off, Rita also portrays the American in the film in a funny turn.
The cast each embodies their assigned personality admirably. Emma Thompson, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Laurie, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Kenneth Branagh, Rita Rudner, Tony Slattery all join Stephen Fry as the film's namesake Peter.
The story brings the characters together after a decade long separation. Their party captures that moment in time, and may age the film quite a bit. The issues and humor are heavily anchored into the era of the nineties. It may be that I am born and raised in the United States that I didn't follow a lot of the humor and cultural differences. But in the end, Peter's friends feels like a British **THE BIG CHILL**.
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★ 8 / 10
A British "Big Chill". I mean that in a good way!
preppy-3
Film starts off on New Years Eve 1982 with a collegiate musical troupe giving their final bad performance. It cuts to 1992 where one of them named Peter…
Film starts off on New Years Eve 1982 with a collegiate musical troupe giving their final bad performance. It cuts to 1992 where one of them named Peter (Stephen Fry) invites the whole group to his remote English castle for a New Years Eve party. We have the Andersons--Roger (Hugh Laurie) and Mary (Imelda Staunton). They've lost a child and she lives in fear that they'll lose the other. Then there's Maggie (Emma Thompson) who's madly in love with Peter. There's Sarah (Alphonsia Emmanuel) a sexually active woman who brings along her man of the moment (Tony Slattery). And there's Andrew (Kenneth Branagh) who's unhappily married to TV star Carol (Rita Rudner).This was called a rip off of "The Big Chill". It is, but it's well-made with a great cast, a wonderful script and is totally involving. This is one of the few movies that mixes drama and laughs and both work beautifully. It was also shot (I believe) on location in England and the setting itself is just incredible. All the acting is good across the board. Rudner is a delight (and has the best lines). Emmanuel sometimes overdoes her role but not enough to damage the film. Dramatic, witty, warm--basically a great comedy drama well worth catching."Did you ever see "Upstairs Downstairs"?"
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★ 8 / 10
I like the way the story unfolds
IridescentTranquility
A lot of people seem to think the plot is particularly weak and that some of the character development is unrealistic, but I think it is quite effective. To…
A lot of people seem to think the plot is particularly weak and that some of the character development is unrealistic, but I think it is quite effective. To fully appreciate why the characters behave the way they do (for instance, Mary saying goodbye to her baby son Ben, while husband Roger stands by) it is worth watching the film twice. Peter's character also unfolds in a logical way, and his actions become crystal clear as the film progresses. Carol - seemingly a B-list celebrity who thinks she's a legend - turns out to be a multi- layered character, and is certainly one of the most memorable.
The only drawback to this rather character-driven film is that sometimes I watch it and think I have obviously missed a scene somewhere. Although I cannot identify with everything the characters have been through, they are all reasonably fleshed out. As the audience gets further into the film, the layers of show and pretence are peeled back like onion skins. The two "extra" characters are eliminated with reasonable explanations. I can see what makes all of the characters tick - except for Brian. Roger and Mary are a good couple, stressed and yet strengthened by the way they finally deal with their personal tragedy - in fact I feel like the holiday is quite cathartic for them. Carol and Andrew, although a bit "showbiz" for my liking are obviously moulded and shaped by their Hollywood surroundings - they are clearly used to fulfilling a role on and off camera and somehow I don't feel that the audience for this film sees the ultimate end of their relationship. Sarah, another thespian type (evidently with a colourful past) seems to do some serious thinking about her approach to relationships. Maggie - oh, I do like Maggie! - the rather bookish spinster undergoes a total change before balancing her old self with the new self she has tapped into. Peter, excellently played by Stephen Fry, makes a courteous host, friend and confidante to all, reluctant to burden his friends with a problem far more stunning than anything his friends have been faced with (perhaps Roger and Mary's is on a par?).
But I have tried and tried, and watched this film over and over and I still feel as though I have somehow missed a key scene that would help me understand Brian. Where is it, I ask? I still don't get the Greta Garbo joke - I can only surmise that it is a story he finds humour in where nobody else ever could, because the punchline never made it to the final cut. A line from him after upsetting Mary states, "It's not like me to put my foot in it" - how ironic when he spends the rest of his time in the film spoiling the moment (particularly after the revue group's lovely song by the piano) and upsetting others. So where the others have a bit of backstory - we know who went out with (or slept with) who at university - and can be empathised with, Brian appears one-dimensional. His character as it stands is the only real flaw in the film, his only real purpose is to be cast off by Sarah when Andrew helps her see how wrongly she approaches her relationships.
A notable mention also goes to the soundtrack. I only wanted to see this film initially because it featured Tears For Fears' 1985 single Everybody Wants To Rule The World, but this is in no way the only musical highlight. The opening sequence was one I enjoyed very much.
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I've seen Peter's friends several times. I'm almost certain that Stallone does not appear at any point in the film.