THE OBJECT OF
MY AFFECTION

• Starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd
• Directed by Nicholas Hytner
• Rated R, with profanity and sexual issues; running time 112 minutes
• With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film an 8

By Jack Garner
Staff film critic

(April 17, 1998) -- The fondly remembered When Harry Met Sally... asked whether a man and a woman could have a fruitful friendship without sex getting in the way.

Now, the equally entertaining Object of My Affection turns the theme on its ear: Can a satisfying relationship develop between a man and woman when sex CAN'T get in the way?

Jennifer Aniston plays Nina, an attractive, affectionate young woman who meets George (Paul Rudd) at a dinner party, just as George is being dumped by his lover, Robert (Tim Daly). Yes, the now-distraught George is gay.

And since he no longer has a place to live, Nina says he can move into the spare bedroom of her Brooklyn apartment for the time being.

Nina's boyfriend, Vince (John Pankow), would LIKE to move in, but grudgingly respects Nina's desire for restraint. And he certainly doesn't worry about George, whose sexual orientiation is well known.

Vince doesn't even get too upset when Nina and George go off to enjoy ballroom dancing classes together.

The plot intensifies when Nina becomes pregnant. Though Vince is the father, Nina begins to think George would make a much better one. He's bright, kind, considerate, warm and witty -- Nina's vision of a what a father should be.

She also realizes that, as much as she likes and admires Vince, she doesn't love him. So she hatches an unconventional scheme involving George as her baby's surrogate father.

But as George becomes her object of affection, Nina is forced to question whether a deep, meaningful relationship is possible when there is no hope of passionate sex.

The Object of My Affection has been cleverly adapted for the screen from a Stephen McCauley novel by the highly regarded Wendy Wasserstein. It has the contemporary edge, funny dialogue and sophisticated urban characters of her hit plays The Heidi Chronicles and The Sisters Rosensweig.

Nicholas Hytner, nominated for an Oscar for The Madness of King George, has directed The Object of My Affection with artful intelligence and a balanced, sympathetic tone. He also corralled his King George, Nigel Hawthorne, for a poignant supporting role.

Aniston's romantic character is both befuddled and beguiling; it's the best big-screen work yet by one of TV's Friends. Rudd is endearing as the equally befuddled George.

The Object of My Affection is an appealing, bittersweet romantic comedy that cleverly explores what sex, love, romance and friendship have in common -- and what they don't.