So, since our FRIENDS have all been up to such interesting projects since their time at Central Perk, I thought a friendly check-in was due.
THE ONE WITH TWO PARTS: PART ONE: THE GIRLS.
JENNIFER ANISTON: Aniston has had a string of successful/semi-successful romantic comedies as of late. Just coming out this weekend was JUST GO WITH IT, co-starring Adam Sandler. While jury is out on how well this will really go over, the reviews have been mixed. Rotten Tomatoes critic forum gives it a terrible 18%, leading me to conclude it can't be that good. But previous rom-coms THE SWITCH (co-starring Jason Bateman) and THE BOUNTY HUNTER (co-starring Gerald Butler) have been more successful. The question is, if she is 42, why is she doing romantic comedies? Now ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that adore Ms. Aniston, but why is she still doing these movies? Her days as a dramatic actress in a film like THE GOOD GIRL were strong, but fleeting. Where have these juicer roles gone for her? She needs to do more roles like this. And while I appreciated her stint opposite bff Courtney Cox in sitcom COUGAR TOWN, this is not her arena anymore. Aniston needs to sink her teeth into some serious meat. 
(Though on a side note, I appreciate her outspoken friend Chelsea Handler, who denounced Angelina Jolie on her E late night show, Chelsea Lately, for Aniston, something Cox couldn't do). 
COURTNEY COX: Cox has been keeping very busy, just like gal-pal Aniston. She has been starring in her suburban cul-de-sac of a show called COUGAR TOWN on ABC. In it's second season, Cox is the only friend who has really done the sitcom game again. With this show (though hideously titled) Cox plays an older woman, looking for love. With its off-beat humor and notable one-liners, the show can soar. However, it is certainly not as endearing as FRIENDS was as it often times lacks depth and heart. But, between another sitcom, like TWO AND A HALF MEN, COUGAR TOWN this show will win out every time. Why? Because TWO AND A HALF MEN is sitcom-slime to the tenth degree and really dumbs down it's audience. Even though COUGAR TOWN doesn't take itself seriously, just like it's Sheen-starring counterpart, it does have really interesting characters and a new take on the love triangle plot line. Plus with guest stars like Emmy-gold Aniston, and series regular tv-icon Busy Philips, the show has some street-cred. But, only a bit. Will it last 10 season like FRIENDS? Hell no. Does it add to the fun of Comedy Wednesday on ABC, yes. And to Cox's credit, she does not play Monica in this sitcom. Something her other FRIENDS have been pigeonholed into. 
LISA KUDROW: Kudrow has kept her recent activity fairly quiet, though guest spot on Cox's COUGAR TOWN did keep her busy for a week or so in 2010. But beyond that, and that terrible movie HOTEL FOR DOGS, she has been keeping a low-profile. The most recent film she was in (that was of worth) was EASY A, starring the newcomer (and now red carpet maven) Emma Stone. Kudrow plays a guidance counselor at Stone's high school. This off-beat character fits Kudrow, but isn't too much like her alter-ego Phoebe. She has some great actors to play off of in this film including Stanley Tucci, Malcolm McDowell and Thomas Haden Church. Kudrow has some phenomenal lines in this film including my personal favorite:
"He brought a knife to school. It's just a butter knife,
but you know what they say, it's a gateway knife."
Read the review for EASY A here: http://cuckookachooanartsreview.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html
But Kudrow has also been creating a one-woman improvised webisode WEB THERAPY where she plays a therapist. You can visit the site here: http://www.lstudio.com/web-therapy/ Though I haven't heard too much about it, at least she is doing something and keeping her comedy alive.
NEXT UP? What are your (boy) FRIENDS up to?
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