'Friends' Movie: The Next Big Reunion?

By Jo Piazza Posted Oct 3rd 2009 10:20AM

Rumors continue to fly over news that the cast of 'Friends' is finally ready to take Central Perk to the big screen. The UK's Daily Mail reported over the weekend that the movie was definitely a go, but the American press grew sour on the story after noticing the paper's source confirming everyone was on board was James Michael Tyler, the actor who played coffee shop clerk Gunther on the series. After the jump, experts weigh in on the likelihood and outcome of a possible 'Friends' film.

Still, there's been no official denial or confirmation of the story just yet, and after the success of 'Sex and the City: The Movie' and the excitement over the 'Seinfeld' reunion on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' it would make sense that movie studios are chomping at the bit to get the gang back together.

But some television and movie critics are skeptical if the beloved sitcom will translate well onto the big screen.

"The show ended with Monica and Chandler moving out of that infamous apartment, which was a character itself. I don't see how they can come back to the series without having that iconic set as the backdrop. Where will all the action take place -- Central Perk?" questioned New York Daily News television columnist Cristina Kinon.

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Jennifer Aniston Snapshots

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Jennifer Aniston Snapshots

Jennifer Aniston sighting on August 24, 2009 in the Queens borough of New York City..Jennifer Aniston Sighting in New York - August 24, 2009.Streets of Manhattan.New York, NY United States.August 24, 2009.Photo by Christopher Peterson/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic.com..To license this image (58168728), contact FilmMagic.com

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Actress Jennifer Aniston seen on the Streets of Manhattan on August 24, 2009 in New York City..Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler on Location for "The Bounty" - August 24, 2009.Streets of Manhattan.New York, NY United States.August 24, 2009.Photo by Brian Ach/WireImage.com..To license this image (58167355), contact WireImage.com

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Actor Gerard Butler and actress Jennifer Aniston seen on the Streets of Manhattan on August 24, 2009 in New York City..Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler on Location for "The Bounty" - August 24, 2009.Streets of Manhattan.New York, NY United States.August 24, 2009.Photo by Brian Ach/WireImage.com..To license this image (58167361), contact WireImage.com

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Actress Jennifer Aniston seen on the Streets of Manhattan on August 24, 2009 in New York City..Celebrity Sightings In New York - August 24, 2009.Streets of Manhattan.New York, NY United States.August 24, 2009.Photo by Brian Ach/WireImage.com..To license this image (58167337), contact WireImage.com

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The location for the show is definitely a problem that 'Sex and the City: The Movie' didn't have. In the HBO series the ladies were constantly on the move all over Manhattan, to Los Angeles and occasionally even slumming it in the suburbs.

"With 'Sex and the City' they always said New York was the fifth character on that show, and New York is a much larger playground to work with when shooting a movie than one (granted, very large) NYC apartment," Kinon said.

'Friends' also resolved its one great plot line when Ross and Rachel finally got together for good in the season finale.

"Ross and Rachel are basically the model for every 'will-they-or-won't-they?' story line on TV, and I think people are tired of it. Heck, Jen Aniston's real love life is much more interesting than anything Ross and Rachel," said Joel Keller, editor of TVSquad.com.

There is also the fact that the cast is starting to get a little long in the tooth. 'Friends was never really a show like 'Sex and the City' that centered on adults with successful adult lives. It was created to be a show about twenty-somethings struggling to get by in New York City.

"What was starting to look sad in their thirties definitely would look pathetic in their forties. Do we need to see a 40-year-old Joey cooing 'How you doin'?' to a college-age starlet?," Keller added.

The Final Scene of the 'Friends' TV Show

Vic Holtreman of Screenrant.com predicts the movie will be a flop, but more of a critical one than a financial one.

"I lean towards 'flop.' Most of the cast members have tried to do well on their own and haven't met with much success, so I guess the idea is 'Let's put the cast back together and see if we can recapture the chemistry.' But on the other hand, how big would a 'Seinfeld' movie be? Look at the 'Sex in the City' movie... anything's possible," Holtreman said.

So all backseat criticism aside, even if it turns out that Ross and Rachel stay together, Monica and Chandler live happily ever after as Phoebe sings 'Smelly Cat' to their adopted baby and Joey just eats another meatball sandwich, 'Friends' fans will probably tune in to see them do it on the big screen.

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Tags: friends, jen aniston, JenAniston, jennifer aniston, JenniferAniston, seinfeld, sex and the city, SexAndTheCity

Comments

(25)

Saturday 03 October

By laura

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I think a made for tv movie would do well. Maybe Monica & Chandler divorce as well as Phoebe and Mike putting them back to the apartments. The childern were taken back by the birth mother. Mabye.....since Friends has ended the cast as not faired to well in movies...every movie Jen does is terrible. Courtney Cox is not that great of an actress either. What happened to Schwimmer? Character actors they are, movie stars they are not.

Sunday 15 November

By Lena

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omg the actors on friends r the best, im sure they r better actors the u would ever be

By Linda

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I don't care what anyone believes! Friends was the best sitcom ever. The cast couldn't have been put together any better. My daughter and I have often asked each other who we liked the best - and we still cannot answer. They are all great. I was so disappointed when Friends came to an end. I would love to see a reunion.

By JKR

No, we don't need a FRIENDS reunion movie.

Jennifer Aniston already makes enough boring 'relationship' movies and the rest of the cast are not big box office draws.

What's next? A DHARMA and GREG reunion movie?

A '3rd Rock From The Sun' reunion movie?

A 'FRASIER' reunion movie?

A 'Mad About You' or 'My Two Dads' reunion movie?

How about "The Golden Girls'? No, wait. Two actresses are dead and two are on death's doorstep.

Any director or producer that wants a FRIENDS movie is just greedy, but that's Hollywood.

By junior

Yes, it's thanks to this sitcom we now have so many reality shows. These greedy "friends" got $1m per episode per person and made the networks realize they could not afford to pay such outrageous salaries, because now all actors wanted that kind of money. So take your "friends" and shove them.

By dfrancis1958

i loved friends, so i would definitely be interested in seeing the movie, besides the tabloids would have a field day with this, jennifer aniston always seems to have a relationship with her movie co-stars, so the possibilties here are endless

By Dangitbawb

For all those that were fans of Friends but don't want a movie made, I have a question. Do you like chocolate? Sure, our bodies don't need it to survive, and it's not all that healthy for you, but it is a guilty pleasure! And thats what I think about a reunion movie for (in my opinion) the funniest show I've ever seen.

I've never seen a show that didn't have a "standout" character until this one. I own all 10 seasons, and there is never a week that goes by that I miss watching a couple. In fact, I never even realized what an ensemble cast they were until my (then) 12 year old asked who the main character was, and I had to stop and think for a minute. That was the day I realized that all of them are.

Yeah, I think it would be very difficult to recapture the same chemistry in a movie format, but who knows? They might just film the movie exactly like the TV show, laugh track and all. It could be a disaster, or start a new trend, but I think a reunion movie should be done. If we didn't try anything new, we'd still be riding horses and washing cloth diapers!

By tana green

Isn't there somw kind of tv show filming now about the Friends series? I just read something about Matt LeBlanc being relieved he was going to play Joey in the show. Kind of sad, has he ever played anybody else? But Ross and Rachel didn't actually get together on the last show, she just got off a plane and went back to him. She's done that sort of thing before. So them being together is not what you call a done deal. There's room for a movie, but please a tv movie. That I'd watch, but not to pay for it.

Monday 05 October

By carolj

nothing compares to the sopranos...now there's a movie i'd love to see

By garthdvoigt

Dear God, please don't make this movie

You forgot Ally McBeal

By juemad

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So who's to say that Ross and Rachel didn't take over Monica and Chandler's apartment? Or even Phoebe and her new husband?

By margie

I'd love to see it. We need an update. I don't watch a lot of comedies, but I really liked that one.

By AP

I watched the series from year one till the end. I'd like to see an approach of where everyone is now getting together to catch up and see how everyeon's coping with life six or seven years down the road...they would have to have Phoebe's husband on board and of course Emma, Ross & Rachel's daughter on board...we'd have to see Monica & Chandler's offspring, and what would a Friends reunion be without Gunther...and just where would Janice pop up and what would be up her sleeve? A lot of questions remain to be answered here, and I think, if done right, this could be excellent! I say, why not?

By Harry the Hamster

Maybe they should make a new "Friends" movie using teddy bear hamsters as the actors. Either that or gerbils.

By Iggy

How about using iguanas as the actors..??

Sunday 04 October

By PN

I don't think that the Friends reunion movie will be as well received as Sex and the City was. It worked when all the actors were in their mid 20s, but seeing them in their late 30s/early 40s reprising their roles? NO! It'll have some success, maybe $40 million the first 4 weeks then flatline every week after that. I don't see it being a $100 to $150 million box office hit. Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courtney Cox and Lisa Kudrow were my favorite actors from the show. The other two, not so much.

By David

They could do it a la "The Big Chill" by killing off a nobody like Ross' ex-wife. Have them all get together for a weekend to support Ross where from the hilarity ensues.

By Nikki

I still watch "Friends" reruns every night faithfully. It would sincerely make a hit bringing it back, even if it was just a movie or one/two episodies. This is a great show. Yes, I do agree that Ross and Rachel did nothing for the show, but everyone made up for it. PLEASE BRING IT BACK. To all you people with your bad comments (shame on you). You have no right to make bad comments on a great, funny, enlightened series. So keep your comments to yourself. If I sam sad, feeling sorry for myself or just in a bad mood, Friends can change that immediately. Bring it back. Forget all you disbelievers and people who do not appreciate a good show.

This is one of my favorite shows ever and I would love to see a movie. Weddings were always a big part to this show as was childbirth, so maybe Phoebe and Mike have a kid and Joey or Ross and Rachel get married. I think it would be fun.

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'Friends' Movie: The Next Big Reunion?

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