Movies come in all shapes and sizes.  Some are long, and some are short.  Some are bad, and some are good.  If we were to come up with a matrix of these descriptors, Friends with Money (2006) would be categorized as short-bad.  The first of those terms is one of the reasons why I picked it, and the second was unexpected.  Another motivating factor for my choice was the title.  Money, either having it or not, is something that has been a focus for many belief systems, and Christianity is no difference.  My favorite Scripture regarding this topic is Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”  Put into context, wealth is a tool, not treasure.  What you treasure should be in Heaven with God.  You can see where I would look at the name of this film and think that it would address these issues, and, to be fair, it does to a certain extent.  It is bad because it is not a movie.  If that is the case then why am I reviewing it?  Read on to understand.

Olivia

Already, you can see a departure from my usual format in discussing Friends with Money.  I am doing so because there is no main character, and that could be all I would need to say to underscore why this film does not work.  Yet, since it is Jennifer Aniston’s Olivia that gets top billing, I am going to start my modified synopsis with her, working through the events in her life before turning to the next set of characters.  She is working as a maid, having quit her previous job as a teacher for nebulous reasons.  She is the only one that does not fit with the title, thus her friends dote on her whenever they can.  Many of us are too prideful to accept charity, but not Olivia.  Being willing to accept help is a Christian act, but she is un-Christian in other ways, particularly as regards her pot smoking; pre-marital sex while on the job with Mike (Scott Caan), who is set up with her by one of her friends; and stealing a jar of skin lotion from one of her clients.  Still, she is generous in other ways, such as agreeing to work for less for the awkward and shy single Marty (Bob Stephenson).  Despite having a steady number of clients, when she hears that Mike makes over $65 an hour as a personal trainer, she decides she is going to switch careers.  She asks one of her friends, Franny (Joan Cusack), for the funds to get the necessary training, but Franny is skeptical.  Franny had also set Olivia up with Mike, and he turns out to not only be a jerk, but takes her already limited funds simply for him showing up at the houses she is cleaning.  When the theft of the lotion happens, instead of facing any trouble, she quits all her jobs.  It is while informing Marty of the change that Olivia hits it off with him, and they end up going together to a charity dinner.  On the way home afterwards, he tells her that he is privately wealthy, and the film ends with her planning where to put stuff in his house to make it feel homier.

Christine and David

Speaking of feeling homier, the next two to discuss in Friends with Money are Christine (Catherine Keener) and David (Jason Isaacs).  They are a pair of successful writers, married, and they have a son.  Their success has brought them the ability to expand their house, but the remodeling encroaches on their work, particularly for Christine.  The more annoyed she gets with the way things are going, the more it strains her marriage to David.  She comments on the fact that he does not notice times when she is in pain, such as when she stubs her toe or burns her hand while cooking.  He also begins saying mean spirited things, such as negative comments about her appearance.  Her friends comfort her, and for a time she tries to act as if nothing is wrong.  The final straw comes when her neighbor shows her how the new addition is ruining the view of everyone else in the neighborhood.  David wonders why his wife cares so much about what others think, and they decide to divorce.  The final scene is of her accidentally running into a piece of furniture and hearing the nanny ask if she is okay.

Aaron and Jane

The person in Friends with Money who is arguably the least okay is Jane (Frances McDormand).  She has everything she could ever want: wealth from being a well-known fashion designer; a family with a loving husband in Aaron (Simon McBurney); and a stable home.  What is bothering her could be called what some refer to as a “mid-life crisis.”  As she puts it, she realizes that she no longer has to wonder what her life is going to be like.  She has gotten everything and she is not satisfied.  As such, she has a quick temper, lashing out against everyone over the slightest perceived infraction.  This is balanced by the ever-patient Aaron, who everyone except for Jane assumes is gay.  He is sensitive, listens, and dresses well.  The movie baits the audience with the possibility of him being homosexual, especially when he befriends another person named Aaron (Ty Burrell).  The two Aarons go to the movies together, then have a bite to eat at the other Aaron’s place, but nothing happens.  The Other Aaron (which is how he is billed) is also married, and after having dinner with Aaron and Jane, the Other Aaron’s wife also thinks Aaron is gay.  Any potential feelings in that regard go unexplored, and by the end everyone just seems to accept that Jane is just angry and move on with their lives.

Franny and Matt

The last two lives to discuss in Friends with Money are the aforementioned Franny and her husband, Matt (Greg Germann).  Actually, there is not much to say about these two.  Franny is the wealthiest of them, but seems to be the most generous.  She is also the one most concerned about Olivia.  When Olivia gets indignant about Franny’s questions, Franny tries to explain how giving works.  That sounds like it could be snobbish, but I found it practical.  The point is proved when she talks about the table she buys for all them at the charity dinner, and how that is the vehicle by which the money gets to where it needs to go.  Thus, God bless her for what she does.  And, Matt is, well, there, too.

Everything that happens in Friends with Money is just sort of there, with no beginning, middle, and end.  I cannot say any of them have any major epiphanies, hence there is a lack of character arcs.  If they are absent, can you really have a movie?  If there is anything about it to be appreciated from a Catholic perspective, it is the fact that Olivia and her friends appear to be fine with her employment.  In other words, they are accepting of her as God is of us.  They do want to help her, which, as I have already discussed, is a charitable thing to do.  Beyond that, they seek her betterment, but are not insistent upon it.  My old boss and friend from my youth ministry days used to use the phrase “invitation, not expectation” when asking me to do certain things.  I always felt that was a Christ-like approach because Faith is about our desire for God, not Him forcing Himself upon us.  And what God offers us, like what Olivia’s friends try to do, is to show us ways to improve ourselves.  For the friends, acceptance is key.  At one point, Olivia gets sensitive, thinking the others are being imposing.  Lashing out, she harshly apologizes for not having her life together.  It is okay if at some point you come to the realization that you do not have it all figured out.  That is a hard goal for anyone this side of the grave.  I wish this could be said about Olivia, but the main thing is that you keep trying.  Spiritually speaking, this means to continue seeking to deepen your relationship with God.  For her, it is about employment, which is okay.  What obviates any lesson she might have gained from her experiences is in meeting Marty, who later admits that he is independently wealthy.  After being aware of her lack of money throughout, she seems too giddy over the prospect of having a boyfriend with cash to burn.

I would not call Olivia a gold digger, but Friends with Money left a poor impression on me.  As it jumps around to the different characters, I began to wonder what is the point.  I do not know if this review revealed one.  As I said in the introduction, it is short, but I am not sure it is even worth the less than ninety minutes I spent watching it.