Peter's Friends

I won't post any spoilers here, but the denouement concerning Peter is telegraphed several times during the film and will catch virtually no one by surprise by the end of the movie. Jeeves and Wooster fans will be excited to see that Peter is played by Stephen Fry and friend Roger by Hugh Laurie, while Harry Potter fans will be delighted to see several instructors, including Branagh, Emma Thompson and Imelda Staunton turn up as others in the group. ... Full Review

The film deserves its R rating, for considerable sex, profanity, vulgarity and nudity. The film starts off with some very funny stuff, and among the appealing players, Branagh and Thompson stand out with well-drawn characters and witty dialogue. ... Full Review

Set to an infectious pop soundtrack (Cyndi Lauper, Tears for Fears) that effectively renders this the first '80s-nostalgia flick, Peter's Friends won't win over anyone looking for depth - as drama, it's pure popcorn - but the vignettes are swept along by Branagh's richly theatrical temperament and by the exuberant wit of the cast. ... Full Review

This includes her painfully tacky performance as a very successful, very screwed-up television star who's married to Branagh's Andrew, a very unhappy, very rich comedy writer. But the script, which was written by American comedian Rita Rudner (who also stars), is mostly a hodgepodge of stale show-biz stereotypes mixed with the brand of schmaltzy emotionalism that can be bought off the rack of any store on Rodeo Drive. ... Full Review

Peter's Friends" is not rip-snortingly brilliant. With a smattering of one-liners, and a dash of ironic spirit, "Peter's Friends" is a diverting, if modest affair. The character resolutions are too schematically contrived. ... Full Review

There's always been a criticism against Peter's Friends.... ... Full Review

And that, ultimately, is where Peter's Friends falls short. At its best, Peter's Friends is warm, touching, and funny. There are several effective long, single-camera shots with no cuts or edits. ... Full Review

I suppose the closing revelation in " Peter's Friends " is more or less predictable, but that didn't destroy its effect on me. Some of those involve Vera ( Phyllida Law ), the housekeeper who has watched Peter grow up, and cares deeply for the way he never quite realized his potential. ... Full Review

Since it first came out in 1992, I have had a tempestuous relationship with Peter's Friends , a pathetic saga of unrealistic expectations, dashed hopes and "we're just at different stages in our lives" regret. But I wanted so much to love this movie, so I watched it again when it turned up on TV. ... Full Review

With a great '80s soundtrack, Peter's Friends is funny, attractively shot and thoroughly undemanding. Full of self-loathing, his own talents overshadowed by her own (rather shallow) achievements. though Peter's closing revelation is poorly scripted ... Full Review