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Rating:  - The Story Of Friendship
What can I say about this movie that hasn't been said? This is a very well made movie with some of the best performances I have ever seen. Everyone gives 110% in their respective roles. I was familiar with Branagh, Thompson, Fry, Laurie, and Rudner before seeing this, and even the ones I wasn't familliar with still played convincingly. There was just so much chemestry between all of the actors. I showed this to a friend yesterday, and he loved it. The humor (especially Branagh's) was right on target, and it made us laugh even after the film was over. My friend (who is an aspiring writer) told me that some of the scenes in the film sounded like something he would've thought up. I liked the opening credits of Peter's Friends as well. They go through all the pop culture starting in 1982 (where the movie begins) and ending up in 1992 (where the movie picks up after the credits). A soundtrack of familiar '80s songs in also helpful. Many people will compare this to The Big Chill, but this one stands alone and in most cases, better than The Big Chill. Peter's Friends is an example of how to make a funny entertaining film that people can relate to a personal level. The lesson it gives is no matter how messed up your friends get, they will always be there for you. Way to go, Branagh.
Rating:  - An honest, touching movie about friendship, and being human
How often do you see a movie in which women are acknowledging how their egos, denied feelings, self-destructive behaviors and deep lonliness are making them obliterate their relationships before the men in their lives ever have a chance to? And how often do you see that without the kind of heavy handed comedy that is usually designed as a secret apology for doing anything but infantilizing women via romance and triumph over victimization?
That alone makes the movie worth seeing. The men and women in this film are going through a lot of stuff, not the least of which wishing they could go back to the time when life seemed to make sense- when they were all together and much closer as friends. But they can only move forward: they can only accept the degree to which they are products of their environment, and how that degree is much smaller than what they would like to believe- in fact, to what degree they constructed their environments through their choices in life. One couple, married, still grieving the death of a child, must face the anger at each other and themselves- and God- before it destroys their marriage like a cancer; and the husband leads the way. One woman must face how she manipulates men into severing their relationships with other women for her, only to blow them off dazed and brokenhearted when there is nothing left to stand in the way of her committing herself to them, including their old lives. Another must come to terms with his sexuality enough to share it with his friends, one of which has fallen in love with him, for all the wrong reasons. The comedy in this film is there by necessity I think moreso than artifice or decoration; if you don't laugh at times at how confusing and hard life can be you can't live it. It balances out the transformation each character must go through in order to get on with their lives, and be true to the friendships they have reestablished that they owe so much joy and revalation to.
The acting in this movie is wonderful, and through it all, there are some pretty funny scenes. The movie as a whole though can have the effect of having your soul scrubbed with a scouring pad if you see yourself or any life experience reflected in the characters. And if you think you can relate to anyone of them, or think you know someone who is like one of them, you probably will.
A very special movie. Don't rent it for a group of friends, unless you're prepared to go through a similiar roller coaster- and then be closer to them all then you ever have been before.
Rating: - Absolutely marvelous story, w/t a single flaw...
I can't imagine how this film could ever get bad reviews... May be some people/critics were offended by the character of a neurotic Hollywood actress...well, this portrayal is all-true, whether we like it or not. "Peter's Friends" is a heartwarming story of six or seven college friends, brought together by one of them, after ten years of little or no contact. The casting is absolutely perfect. These guys really feel like friends (well, Stephen Fry & Huge Laurie are; Kenneth Branaugh & Emma Thompson, I think, used to be married?). Although this film is very sentimental and talks about many of life's saddest things (e.g. loosing a child, loosing a parent, divorse, etc.), it manages to be exremely funny and witty (British trademark, after all) Sometimes, I was not sure if I was crying or laughing; may be, I was doing both at the same time... You will not believe how funny Emma Thopson and how hearbreaking Kenneth Branaugh and Huge Laurie are in this film! In my opinion, if you watch this film, you can become a bit of a better person. I, certainly, re-thought some of my relationships after watching it...
Rating: - Sex, friends, and forgiveness, not necessarily in that order
I loved this movie. I'm a big Branagh fan, and caught this in passing on Bravo network. I was hooked. I was also thrilled to see a film with Tony Slattery in it, playing an atypical role. He did very well; I was impressed and pleased. It's not a light-hearted movie, but it is heartwarming overall. And yes, Americans might have trouble with some of the British humor; I always seem to. But as long as you like British humor, I don't think it makes a major difference in how you feel about the movie.
Rating:  - British Big Chill
This movie was entertaining, but I must admit I wanted to see it because Tony Slattery was in it. His acting really surprised me because I always thought of him a clown, but I can now see that he is capable of a strong performance. I enjoyed this movie.
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