The Worst Film Ever

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Masqueraring as a comedy when it clearly is not, Randall Kleiser's IT'S MY PARTY is a study in self-absorption and schmaltz that probably started with good intentions but became a mass of sweeping fragility swathed in pathos and cheap emotions. The premise is that a man, dying of AIDS, has decided to throw an all-out party where he will announce that he will commit suicide. An engaging extrovert, he displays the frenetic optimism precisely found in manic-depressives or people who tend to carry a load with stoic abandon until they no longer can carry it by themselves. Of course, this movie never bothers to truly dive in deep into Nick Stark's (Eric Roberts) psyche -- all we know is what we know and we're given some access into his past via flashbacks, but even then, they only serve as a point of reference, never as a true picture. And then, predictably, his ultimate decision, which is so ridiculous that I wondered if Nick wasn't really a woman pretending to be a man. Talk about a tragic heroine! At least Lee Remick has more to do as his mother, and oddly enough, the movie totally forgets about her and chooses instead to concentrate solely on the mechanics of the party, Nick's botched relationship with Brandon (Gregory Harrison) who left him when he learned of Nick's illness and has come to (maybe?) make amends, and scenes that spell Cute and Tender all the way. I didn't buy it then, I still don't buy it now, and I certainly can't recommend a movie where a gay man decides that the best way to go is with a bang, even at the expense of family members and close friends. That's the ultimate act of selfishness, even if this is only a story. There will be some sentimentalists out there who will weep their eyes out at the sole mention of this pile of dreck, but not me.

I am a gay male, age 42, who in my years of being openly gay, since 18, have lost scores of friends to AIDS. This is probably to me one of the best representations of a person holding on to their dignity until the end. And when it comes down to it, that's all one has in the end, their dignity. Watching someone you love more than life itself slip away from you and grow old before your eyes is something I would not wish on my worst enemy. Eric Robert's character has obviously celebrated his life to the fullest and now he is celebrating the ending of it in a manner which to me is sincere, humorous, and given to appreciate those around him who have made his life special. This is one of his best performances I've seen and I am someone who enjoys his movies. Maybe because this is a departure from his usual roles is what makes it good. He's very gracious in this role.

Brandon Theis (Gregory Harrison) and Nick Stark (Eric Roberts) have been lovers for years. Then Nick is diagnosed with HIV. Brandon promises to not leave him---but eventually does. He can't handle The HIV. A year later Nick is told he will die very soon of lesions in the brain. Rather than slowly become a vegetable and wither away, Nick decides to commit suicide. He invites all of his friends to a 2 day party--at the end, he'll take the pills and die. Brandon finds out and attends the party. But does Nick want him there and will Nick be able to forgive him before he goes?Strong, powerful movie. I saw it in a theatre in 1996 and cried my eyes out. I saw it 2 years later with a friend and we BOTH cried our eyes out! Saw it again tonight--cried again. This drama is harrowing at times and brings about questions about love, death with dignity, suicide, HIV...etc etc. But it never gets too maudlin and is always fascinating. Roberts is just superb as Nick. Strong, handsome, refusing to wither away. He also approaches his HIV condition with strength and humor--as he should. Lee Grant is (sadly) wasted as his mother. Harrison is so-so as his boyfriend. Usually he's sort of stone-faced but there were a few moments that the looks on his face made me break down. There's one scene of him and Roberts just looking at each other across the room--you can see the love, fear and hatred in their faces--it's just great. And Harrison really delivers during the last 30 minutes of the movie. There's a huge cast in this movie--Margaret Cho (hilarious); Marlee Matlin (wasted); Olivia Newton-John (just great); Bronson Pinchot (overdoing the bitchiness a bit); Bruce Davison; Roddy McDowall. There's the problem--there are too MANY characters! I'm still not sure who McDowell was and Sally Kellerman shows up looking great but--who is she? We're never told. Also, the party scenes are scattershot--the camera seems to linger around catching certain characters and snatches of their conversations. I also have a hard time believing that anyone has this many friends and they all keep quiet about him committing suicide. Still--problems aside this works. I think this film hit too close for director/writer Randal Kleiser. Supposedly he went through the same things with his lover. When this movie was released he couldn't promote it. It came (and went) very quickly. That's really a shame. It's a strong, powerful movie that should be seen by everybody. And Roberts gives out one of his best performances. The scene when him and Harrison kiss is heart-breaking.Well worth catching--an excellent drama. Just bring plenty of tissues--you'll need them!

Who this film is supposed to benefit, entertain, or do anything else for is beyond me. It has a remarkable cast but the story is completely depressing. I can't say much about the acting cause all anyone did in this movie was try to look happy to be there. I'm not to sure if that what the director told them to do or cause it was just what they did. Essentially it's about a guy who finds out he's going to be dead to the world by Monday. His boyfriend left him so he invites everyone else he knows to come over and keep him entertained before dying.I can't say I saw this recently (thankfully) but I can't say I remember a single funny moment in it. I can't recommend this to anyone either, it's just to bleak. This cast is wasted on a story I would wish on no one. I understand AIDS is a terrible and scary thing, that is no reason to depress people with this.This is not the most depressing thing I have ever seen but it comes close. It tugs at the heart, but leaves you completely down.