Friends WIth Money.

Friends With Money (2006) is about four generally unlikeable friends and their significant others. While the title might lead one to believe that Jennifer Aniston's character, Olivia, is the protagonist, all four ladies are featured on in equal measure.

Olivia is, however, generally the focus of the three wealthy friends' concern. Olivia isn't married. Olivia is a pothead. Olivia isn't living up to her potential. This last one, at least, is a genuine concern. Olivia used to be a teacher at a posh private school, but got so fed up with how the students were condecending assholes-in-training, she quit. Now, Olivia works as a maid. I think she finds it satisfying. I don't think it was a self-mortification practice, as if cleaning up other people's homes would make her a more noble person, but she just gave up on herself and didn't find what she did at all problematic. She had enough money for rent and weed, but not high-end cosmetics, which we watch her procure 1/2 ounce by 1/2 ounce in tiny sample tubes (see picture).

Catherine Keener plays Christine, who is half of a screenwriting duo. Her writing partner is her husband. They sit accross from one another, reading dialogue to make sure it's true to their created characters. They are adding a garish storey to their home, and when the contractor tells them that the addition will not make them very popular with the neighbours because it blocks everyone's view, she shrugs and says, "I want it."

Jane, played by the infinitely watchable Frances McDormand, is a successful clothing designer. Why her friends don't recognise her obvious depression, I don't know. She was gripped by such a deep malaise, she doesn't bother to wash her hair. It just gets dirty again, she says, and her arms get tired anyway, so why bother. She is so combattant and ready to fight with anyone who she feels wrongs her, she got thrown out of a an Old Navy for belligerantly accusing a couple of butting in line. (What's more humiliating: being thrown out of an Old Navy, or an A-list designer being seen in an Old Navy?) Her husband may or may not be dating another man. The two men could just be friends, but the kind of wide-eyed excitement is that of expectant lovers, not new friends. Jane is oblivious to husband's seemingly confused sexuality, and it doesn't appear to play a role in her depression.

Joan Cusack plays the frugal Franny, the easily-manipulated wife of a wealthy businessman. She is the richest friend, and she and her husband have so much money, they can't decide who to donate it to. What a burden that must be. She introduces her trainer to Olivia. He's a cad who has a fetish for hired help, and although he follows Olivia to other people's homes and uselessly watches her clean, he insists a cut of her pay. Meanwhile, he brags about making $65 an hour as a personal trainer. She forks over his "cut" without argument.

All of the friends don't seem to be happy, but are they really unhappy? They are letting their lives be lived for them; passive passengers in their own biographies. They are living lives of well-to-do Angelinos, but seem gaunt and drawn, with their tanned skin hanging from their bones. The friends are more contented to gossip than to actually help one another. One of them wonders aloud: if we weren't already friends and met now, would we become friends now? She thought probably not. They're all in their respective ruts. Keener's character seems to be the one with the most development. She eventually feels remorse over the rude construction on the house and also begins divorce proceedings.

Was this a good movie? Umm... It wasn't a bad movie. It wasn't remarkable, but it was not unwatchable. The characters were interesting but not compelling. I don't know if I'd even recommend this as a renter (August 29th). If I weren't writing this review, I might even forget I'd seen it. Meh.