The Object of My Affection
Tags: romantic

Plot synopsis:
Social worker Nina Borowski (Jennifer Aniston) is a bright young woman living in a cozy Brooklyn apartment. Nina attends a party given by her stepsister Constance (Allison Janney) and her husband, Sidney (Alan Alda). There Nina meets George Hanson (Paul Rudd), a young, handsome, and gay first grade teacher. Nina tells George that her stepsister is constantly trying to fix her up with somebody from higher society, completely ignoring the fact that Nina has a boyfriend, Vince (John Pankow). During the conversation, Nina offers George a room in her apartment as she has just heard from his boyfriend, Dr. Robert Joley (Tim Daly), that George is looking for somewhere to live. George, not knowing about Robert's plans, is taken aback and heartbroken, and after the party the two split up. George accepts Nina's offer and moves into her apartment.
The two soon become best friends; they watch films together and go ballroom dancing. Everything is great until Nina announces that she is pregnant. Vince, the baby's father, wants to marry her, but his constant care drives Nina crazy; she leaves him and asks George to help raise her child. For some time, they live together in her apartment in Brooklyn. Everything is perfect again until Nina finds that her love for George is growing every day, especially after he tells her he had a girlfriend in high school, leading her to believe they might have a sexual relationship.
One afternoon, George and Nina are about to have sex when George gets a phone call from Robert who tells him how much he has missed him and invites him away for the weekend. George is confused but agrees to go. Nina feels threatened and gets jealous. George and Robert do not re-establish their relationship, but George meets Paul James (Amo Gulinello), a young actor, and the two fall in love and have sex. Meanwhile, Nina is staying with Constance at a vacation mansion and is extremely moody. She has a horrible time and decides to head back home and asks George to return as well. She is mugged on the way and a friendly police officer, Louis (Kevin Carroll), gives her a ride home. Nina and George decide to invite Paul and his elderly acting mentor, Rodney, for Thanksgiving. Paul stays the night and has sex with George, resulting in a fallout between George and Nina.
The following day, they start arguing again at George's brother's wedding. Nina fully explains to George her feelings for him. George, who loves Nina as his best friend, tells her that he wants to be with Paul. A few hours later, Nina gives birth to a beautiful girl she names Molly. Vince, ecstatic, visits her in the hospital, but when he leaves to complete paperwork, Nina and George remain alone with Molly. Nina asks George when he plans to move out to which he replies that he doesn't know. She asks him to move out of her apartment before she gets home from hospital, stating that it would hurt her too much to have him stay any longer knowing that he doesn't love her.
The end of the film takes place at George's school eight years later, in which all of the characters go to see Molly in a musical production that George has directed. Nina is now in a relationship with Louis, and George is with Paul, both of them now happy. The film ends as Nina, George, and young Molly (Sarah Hyland) (who refers to George as her "Uncle George") walk together down the sidewalk, hand-in-hand, on their way to get coffee.

Review: I thought that Paul Rudd gave a wonderful and moving performance, particularly at the Science Fair when he tells Nina how much he would love to be a father.
Jennifer Aniston is fantastic as a single woman who becomes pregnant and wants to raise the child with her roommate George, who is gay.
Despite a downright peculiar finish which gives new meaning to the term 'feel-good', "The Object of My Affection" is a careful, perceptive and insightful comedy-drama about a straight woman and her gay-male best friend living together.
There's an amazing cast here, including Mad About You's John Pankow and veteran Alan Alda (all great) but the movie belongs to Jennifer and Paul.
Many aspects of this theme are played out, and in more ways that you'd think just from reading the back of the DVD cover.I highly recommend this if you like that class of chick flick that goes beyond the obvious to ponder some of the deeper questions about love and the things we do to find it, keep it, and occasionally break our hearts over it.
Like other beautiful movies of this kind (eg, While You Were Sleeping, French Kiss) the comedy is fairly subtle and character-based.
In the end, the relationships in the movie don't come down to gay or straight, or anything one can label.
The Object of My Affection is a very realistic movie about a woman who finds a good-looking gay man attractive.
Paul Rudd is particularly fine as the man who befriends Jennifer Aniston's character.
Paul Rudd's character is fun to be with and, even though they have no sexual encounters, they are both very good friends.
Paul Rudd's character finds an attractive young man and falls in love.
I saw The Cider House Rules (excellent movie!) last night and liked Paul Rudd very much.
Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd are great just like the rest of the cast and I think the 2 had a great chemistry together.What I liked most about this movie is the way they portrayed gays.
Usually, in Hollywood films they are just minor characters to get some laughs and they are sometimes shown as totally wacky persons like the character of Nathan Lane in The Birdcage (which by the way is a funny movie).
But in this movie, we see that gay people can be "normal" with an everyday job and feelings just like any other person.
Paul Rudd played George as such an ordinary man and his character was so much more besides being gay.
Jennifer and Paul have great chemistry together, and although the story is a bit sad, it is an entertaining and light comedy.
Seeing Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd's characters on screen made me see just how precious love is.
I want to have a relationship like the one that Jennifer and Paul's characters did in the beginning.
I watched it with my Dad of all people, and then my Mom thought it looked good so she joined in, she quipped "I have seen this before in theaters back in 1997, it was fabulous and sweet"I think the exact same thing, I will not leave a summary of the film because so many others have, but I have to say this one was different for me.
The Object of my affection is truly a very moving and emotional movie that is a great time to watch.
It really showcases Jennifer Aniston's great range, going from Rachel in friends to Nina in this film, she really handles the dramatic scenes very well, and so does Paul Rudd.
I absolutely loved the friendship and relationship between Nina and George here, it was so sweet and unique, and ya know they really treated gay people very well in this film, they didn't stereotype or anything, they represented them with healthy living relationships, like they are in reality, so that was great too.
If you are a fan of Jennifer Aniston and comedy, this movie is perfect for you!Nina (played by Jennifer) is a nice young lady, who lives in New York.
(I'm sure gays will love it too!) The beautiful and talented Jennifer Aniston has yet to star in a better movie!.
:)This is a great movie that you guys who are falling in love with a GAY man should see !!
I wasn't very eager to see another "the only good guys are the gay ones" type movie where heterosexual women get the best of both worlds in a sensitive, caring, homosexual.
It has great actors, a good length, a cool story and it proves that Jennifer Aniston can do a good dramatic movie well.
Now she has fallen in love with a gay guy (Paul Rudd), and does he have the same feelings?This film is entertaining and lovely to watch.
Paul Rudd and Jenifer Aniston have great performances and give the story the touch of reality that captures you.
This film is very modern and talks about many stuff of the 90's, and i think every single young person should see this movie, because it shows tolerance, respect by different kind of people, and good love and friendship.
The actors play very well their characters, specially Jennifer Aniston, who is very talented and a pretty good actress, besides a nice face.
I don't think you'll like this movie if you have never had at least some of the experiances of these characters, things will just seem to foreign to you.
I have to say Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston both did give great performances.
An excellent movie, featuring fine turns from Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Alan Alda, Nigel Hawthorne, and John Pankow, among others.
I found myself referring to the film in an effort to try and explain why that type of relationship cannot work.Paul Rudd`s portrayal of George was sympathetic, and showed the emotional conundrum that can arise in such a friendship.
Nigel Hawthornes characters quote says it best, "ONE SHOULDN'T BE TO HARD ON ONESELF IF THE OBJECT OF ONE'S AFFECTION RETURNS THE FAVOR WITH RATHER LESS ENTHUSIASM THEN ONE MIGHT HAVE HOPED." That said, you shouldn't be, but where all human, and we do feel the pain, and it hurts.
I think that Paul Rudd´s role as George is brilliant; I do not want to exclude Jennifer Aniston´s role as Nina.
The one thing that didn't work for me was the ending.As said earlier, the characters are great, and every one of the actors do a good job portraying their own; Jennifer Aniston pulls out one of her best performances, if not even the best.
I saw this film once a year or so ago and although I liked it I didn't think it was anything special, just another vehicle to try and get Jennifer Aniston into the movies.
I think Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd bonded really well and their chemistry was fantastic...
I like Paul Rudd ever since seeing him in Clueless and I think he brought a sensitive side to George and also the fact that even though a man is gay the need to be a father is still there as it is in many childless women.
I have seen Jennifer Aniston in quite a few things but she has never been more unRachel-like in my opinion than in this film, in other words she was amazing as Nina who falls in love with a man who is caring, warm, sensitive and wants to be a father, but who is gay.
Jennifer Aniston played a different character than what we are used to seeing, which made it a better film.
THIS IS A BRILLIANT MOVIE.I STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT TO GAY PEOPLE WHO STILL DON'T COME OUT.PAUL RUDD'S ACTING IS EXCELLENT AND GIVE POSITIVE IMAGE OF HOMO..
Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston acted very well.
Jennifer Aniston, fresh from her success on TV, plays a pregnant social worker who rejects her overbearing boyfriend in favor of her gay roommate (Paul Rudd), with whom she subsequently falls in love.
Gay people should be up in arms about how they are portrayed here, they just jump in bed with each other, without how it might affect their friends and lovers....just instant gratification.No one in this movie cared about how they made others feel, just a bunch of uncaring, snooty, artsy types.
A pregnant New York social worker (Jennifer Aniston) begins to develop romantic feelings for her gay best friend (Paul Rudd), and decides she'd rather raise her child with him, much to the dismay of her overbearing boyfriend Vince.Even though Aniston is on the other side of 40 these days, she remains one of the most sizzling actresses on the planet.
For every "We're The Millers" there is a "The Switch."While she has given us glimpses of her greatness in many different flicks, such as "The Good Girl they are not shown often enough, and this is another one of her good acting roles.All the lead characters seem nice people to hang out with, though Vince (John Pankow) would be annoying to spend too much time with.
If "The Object of my Affection" don't start it all, is (In movies, because "Will & Grace" is a great and very funny T.V show) the best of all films of this kind of plot - or better the best that i have seen-.In our lives, always we find special people that full us.
The movie counts with great performances too: Jennifer Aniston (Shines like ever as Nina), Paul Rudd as George, Timothy Daly, Amo Gulinello, Alan Alda and Allison Janney.Of course that are a lot of movies about unrequited love (Look for one the best movies of this topic "My Own Private Idaho") but the bitter way, dressed of colorful, of "The Object of my Affection" is unique.
I like Aniston as an actress; she is natural, sensitive and has a comic flare but to make it really big on the big screen and go further with her career she must get out of those fluffy Hollywood romantic comedies that she seems to get frequently cast it.She wisely accepted the role of Nina, a social worker in a deeply- troubled relationship who becomes best friends with her new flatmate, a recently dumped gay man.
Emotional turmoil ensues, however, when she falls pregnant by her controlling boyfriend and falls in love with this gay man.Though the script takes itself a little too seriously at times and is riddled with typical US sentimentalism, it is a sensitive and very human piece where Aniston, who admitted to being stretched as an actress on this film, does a good job, demonstrating range.As far as I am aware, this film was not a box-office smash but it is enjoyable and did go down well with the critics.
Aniston needs to do more films like this and more people need to be prepared to watch them.
One of those films about the relationship between a straight woman and a gay man, "The Object of My Affection" tells of Nina Borowski (Jennifer Aniston) and George Hanson (Paul Rudd), best friends whose affections know almost no limits.
Its certainly a decent film with good performances, but the idea deserved more.'The Object of My Affection' Synopsis: A pregnant New York social worker begins to develop romantic feelings for her gay best friend, and decides she'd rather raise her child with him, much to the dismay of her overbearing boyfriend.'The Object of My Affection' is about finding comfort in a partner, despite their sexuality.
George Fenton's Score is passable.Performance-Wise: Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd are in complete form.
It is a good film with a nice story and some excellent acting by Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, who were well supported by the minor characters.
Although I have never had a relationship like that of Nina (Jennifer Aniston) and George (Paul Rudd), I find myself relating completely to the characters, and am moved by the wedding scene every time.Jennifer Aniston is one of my favorite actresses, and does an excellent job in this movie.
What results is a moving account of the relationship between a gay man and a straight woman, who just happens to be in love with him.As a romantic comedy, it does better than most, forcing the viewer to think about different kinds of relationships, as well as breaking the played out formula of every other romantic comedy.
Aside from a few cheesy, unoriginal lines ("I never want to lay eyes on you again!" and "I'll talk to you about poetry") Wendy Wasserstein's script is both moving and funny, and really hits the spot.My one issue with the movie, even after seeing it over and over again is the casting of John Pankow (TV's "Mad About You") as Vince, Nina's boyfriend and father of her child.
Jennifer Aniston captivates me on the screen, and I just cannot stop watching this movie..
There might be some people who say, "If you are a fan of Jennifer Aniston or Paul Rudd, it makes the movie watchable." WRONG!
This movie is the answer to why movies are going down hill nowadays.jennifer Aniston falls in love with a gay paul Rudd and can't get it into her head why he just doesn't favor her scent.
Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston walk through their roles.
And, while some of the solutions are a little facile, the film nevertheless succeeds, due in large part to a luminous performance by Jennifer Aniston and the effectively-developed central relationship between Aniston's Nina Borowski, a pregnant twentysomething heterosexual, and George Hanson (Paul Rudd), a gay man in the same age range..
Watched this 20 year old movie yesterday only because Jennifer Aniston is in it.
One of few good points about the movie is i felt that Jennifer Aniston portrayed her character Nina Borowski well.
Paul Rudd plays the male lead, a gay man who cares deeply for his female friend.
Of all the 'Friends' cast it is Jennifer Aniston who has gone on to have the most successful film career, not least helped by the fact that she has found her niche making romantic comedies like this one.That doesn't mean to say that they've all been good.
While better than 'Picture Perfect' I didn't find much to enjoy in this film that tries to be both serious and funny at times, and doesn't do either well.Aniston and Rudd have good chemistry but yet are upstaged every time Allison Janney appears on camera.It's a passable enough film, but not one I'd rush to see again..
Paul Rudd gave an excellent performance as a nice sensitive gay man who ends up in between a rock, a hard place, and jennifer aniston's puppy whimpering.
A young woman (Jennifer Aniston) falls in love with a devastatingly gorgeous young man (Paul Rudd) who happens to be gay.
This was a very good movie and the leads (Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd) have very good chemistry.
this would be an ok film (in my opinions anyway) had they cut down on the homosexual stereotypes and focused on some reality.i was really furious about how this movie portrayed gay men as just merely happy go lucky, loving and ready to drop everything for their best friend.
in all reality, i probably would like PAUL RUDD's character too but it DOESN'T HAPPEN and to portray this is just insulting the intelligence of the audience (one whom i find usually liking this one).so in the end, what could have been a fairly decent movie turned out to be pathetically lost..
George moves in with str8 Nina (Jennifer Aniston).
But--Aniston was more well known than Rudd so this movie is now all about her and totally ignores any of the more interesting aspects of the novel and makes the characters more accessible.
Paul Rudd does a great job as George, basing his character more on genuine human emotion than gay stereotypes.
The chemistry between aniston & Rudd is unreal.This is an old time movie that is just well written & acted and free from hype & frill like the way movies use to be made.I can't say enough about Jennifer's performance; her range is unbelievable from sweet & caring to intense angry to being vulnerable & hurt, and she does it all with great conviction.
The story in the book was told from George's (Paul Rudd's) perspective, here it is told from Nina's.
Jennifer Aniston is a great actress, I'm a big fan of hers, and she played the role of Nina Borowski superbly.
Paul Rudd is also a good actor, but I just didn't feel like him in every moment.
Paul Rudd is gay but he's barely allowed to kiss a guy for most of the movie.
And I guess I was interested in Jennifer Aniston's acting...Call me crazy, but a good movie for me has a good ending.
I had a hard time to watch that development of those stereotypic characters.Every reasonably intelligent girl loves her gay friend.
Avoid this movie if you are male and don't like Jennifer Aniston.
Except for a "too-tidy" ending, this film is as charming as Paul Rudd's smile.And Jennifer Aniston CAN act!
Both Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston are charming as the young pregnant woman who falls in love with her gay roommate.
Jennifer Aniston's Rachel on "Friends" is a great comic creation but here she nicely plays things differently and more seriously.
Jennifer Aniston's portrayal of Nina really ruined it for me; I bet she could act if only she actually tried to be something other than Rachel from "Friends." Paul Rudd was the best part of this film.
I think she's funny and a good actress, but somehow that wasn't enough to carry this movie all through the end.
Jennifer Aniston does some of her best work here and the rest of the cast is also strong.So what is wrong with the movie?Actually nothing other than that it ultimately is too honest for its own good.