Fridae

This is a true chick flick — a flick filled with chicks, and some pretty high-calibre chicks at that.

Jennifer Aniston joins hands with Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener and Frances McDormand in this movie about how friends with money interact with friends without. Aniston is Olivia, a woman who's single, working as a maid, and a little too fond of marijuana for her own good. Her three friends, in stark contrast, are married and successful to varying degrees. They don't know what to do with Olivia — find her a man, or find her a better job? In an odd decision, Franny (Cusack), the most fortunate of the lot, decides to set her up with a date from hell.

If it sounds a little bit like Sex and the City, it may be due to the fact that Nicole Holofcener had indeed directed several episodes of the TV series. However, she is also known for making movies about female issues, and in Friends with Money she manages to craft a film that, whilst not as impressive as her previous films, is still riveting to watch even though it is about people who are all a little flawed in their own ways (i.e. real human beings). All four leads put forth great performances, and despite the possibility that one actress could outshine the rest, manages to divide up screen presence pretty well.

Friends with Money doesn't really offer up any insights about friends with money (or without), but it is a peek into the modern American woman's mindset, and the fact that it is well-acted and well-written makes it a worthwhile watch.