Your Friends And Neighbors

MPAA Rating: R

Entertainment: +1/2

Content: -4

This film is the follow-up to writer-director Neil LaBute's highly praised and controversial first film, "In the Company of Men." In YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS LaBute probes the dysfunctionality beneath the surface of interpersonal relationships--between spouses, friends, and lovers. Three men and three women portray characters involved in immoral behavior that leads to infidelity and sexual deceit. Mary (Amy Brenneman) is married to Barry (Aaron Eckhart). Terri (Catherine Keener) is married to Jerry (Ben Stiller). Cary (Jason Patric) and Cheri (Nastassja Kinski) are single. Mary and Jerry begin an affair. Terri and Cheri form a lesbian relationship. Cary asks Terri out. Jerry ends up in bed with a girl; Cary ends up in bed with Mary. When they aren't engaging in sex, all six characters are constantly talking about it. The picture will most likely perform poorly at the box office. It has a very limited appeal, and many people will not identify with the characters.

There are no redeeming aspects to this film. Called "a modern immorality tale," the film contains innappropriate sexual relations that are condoned as simply the behavior of modern times. Nothing is cast in a disapproving light. Sex takes place five times and is implied nine times. Homosexual embraces and kissing take place as well as two scenes where sex is implied between Terri and Cheri. A reference to homosexual sex also occurs when one man announces his best sexual experience was with a male teenager in high school. There is no nudity, but the film is polluted by incessant sexually suggestive dialogue and action. The f-word is used 67 times, the s-word 14 times, and other obscenities 16 times. Regular profanity is heard 14 times. The fact that the film is all about illicit sex and nothing else makes it totally objectionable. Few are the discerning viewers who could stomach this film.

Preview Reviewer: Abigail Hamilton
Distributor:
Gramercy Pictures, 9333 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Many (14) times - All moderate

Obscene Language: Many (97) times - f-word 67, s-word 14, other 16

Profanity: Many (21) times - Regular (14), Exclamatory (7)

Violence: None

Sex: Several (5) times; also, implied heterosexual sex (7), implied homosexual sex (2), self gratification (2)

Nudity: None

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Many times (numerous sexually explicit conversations , man touches woman's clothed breast, gesture implying self-gratification, sensual kising and touching)

Drugs: Cigarette smoking, drinking wine with meals, drinking beer and hard liquor

Other: Entire theme and storyline of movie deals with condoned immorality

Running Time: 100 minutes
Intended Audience: Adults


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