jimfinger-47793

I came to this after seeing a very recent You Tube interview with Dyan Cannon, in which this film was mentioned positively. And for good reason. Yes, of course the styles, clothes, and culture have all evolved and those elements create a sense of dated-ness. But it doesn't matter! The characters/characteristics satirized remain as dead-on as ever: male egotism, overbearing, critical mothers, self-important artists, an untrustworthy medical establishment (talk about THAT one still being timely), spoiled children, but most of all (and sadly so) the ease with which supposed good friends readily demean a friendship to satisfy a personal tryst. Ms. Cannon portrays a realistically complex character with consummate skill and integrates a constantly careening tonality into a coherent whole. This is a funny, albeit painfully so, minor classic.

The milieu of the ultra wealthy lends itself to very high production values, art direction, etc. But attractive as that all is, this series far from skin deep. It is an extremely well-written comedy of manners with a biting satirical tone that takes aim at both the wealthy and the struggling; but it is also a drama of personalities coping with the pressures of fractured family relationships. Navigating such a variety of tone is no easy task, but the cast and crew involved have done so with great craft. Special rewards come from watching the three female leads deliver richly textured performances.