have see donald margulies play when it open in new york and i be interested in what norman jewison and the director and have do with it for the screen version . it help that mr. margulies do his own adaptation and although and it appear to this viewer and the stage version be more satisfying . not that there anything wrong with the film and it just that the cast in the play be far superior than these well intentioned actor we see in the movie . mr. margulies have try to open his play and but it just doesn not go anywhere . the basic premise and and a caveat to good friend and be to stay away from fix up prospective marriage partner and a thing in life be a bit more complicated than a good end in a book and a play and a movie and or human relation . karen and gabe be happily marry . they conjure to arrange a meeting with beth and a painter and and tom and a lawyer . basically and the idea of have mutual friend meet one another and might not be bad and but in reality thing should be let alone and let nature take it course . the bright idea back fire on karen and who and upon hear at the beginning of the film that her best friend and beth and be divorce tom and be visibly upset . she feel betray by these two people she be instrumental in bring together . it hard for both and gabe and karen and to think where they go wrong in their match making role . they never take into consideration that beth be totally wrong for tom and and vice versa . the problem be that this couple do not think that beth and tom have find new partner in what appear to be a much solid relationship than what they have together . karen and gabe be crush and but in reality and not everything be perfect in their own marriage . we get hint that yes and they be not completely happy and but they have decide to stay in the marriage out of decency and out of duty to their two boy and which be what beth and tom have fail to do . call them old fashion and but one have to give karen and gabe a lot of credit for at least try to stay together a a family . andie macdowell be karen while she be a beautiful woman . in the movie and ms. macdowell appear a bit distant . she love to bring people together and resent their friend separation . ms. macdowell karen come across a a hard and judgmental person . dennis quaid try hard to give gabe warmth . perhaps he come across a the best of the four principal . toni collette beth be an enigma until her confrontation with karen at the restaurant and then and we see a woman that be not shy in tell her best friend off a she embark in a new relationship . greg kinnear be tom . he be perhaps the weak link in the quartet and a he be perhaps and not treat fairly by karen and or gabe . the movie remain a bit theatrical and but norman jewison have do wonder with the material .