“Anniversary” is an MSNBC (MS NOW?) screed that leaves out the bogeyman, presumably on objective.
The dystopian drama imagines a political motion that shreds democracy briefly order.
It’s superficially compelling however foolish, a rant that refuses to acknowledge onerous truths whereas revealing a mite an excessive amount of concerning the fashionable Left.
Diane Lane and Kyle Chandler play Ellen and Paul, a pair celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss. They’ve 4 stunning, grownup youngsters who’ve gathered for the massive day, together with their son’s new squeeze.
That’s Phoebe Dynevor as Liz, who’s a mite too acquainted to Ellen. The matriarch is a Georgetown College professor of some notice who had a detrimental expertise with Phoebe, a former pupil.
The younger girl’s anti-Democratic leanings scared Ellen on the time, and Phoebe has solely grown extra authoritarian since then.
Liz pens a best-selling e book dubbed “The Change,” which argues for a one-party authorities to exchange our present mannequin. How would that work? Why is that superior to the present two-party system?
The movie takes a, “don’t ask, don’t inform” method to Phoebe’s handiwork. “Anniversary” is both too cowardly to share extra, or we’re meant to imagine it’s some far Proper plan.
Wink-wink? Orange Man Unhealthy? The Change does love a tweaked model of the American flag and custom.
Nudge-nudge?
Both manner, “The Change” swiftly engulfs the tradition, and the movie captures what occurs over the subsequent few years. It’s like somebody attended the No Kings rally and wrote a screenplay primarily based on its most unhinged marchers.
On the very least, the story ought to share what’s so compelling about The Change, proper? Mafia films depict extremely evil souls, however in addition they illustrate why somebody can be seduced by the prison life-style.
The Left/Proper comparisons seem inevitable. Ellen swears she’s neither liberal nor conservative, a line meant to ship a message to the viewers. Your stand-in shouldn’t be a partisan, so swallow the remainder of the story accordingly.
But the early scenes scream the other. Ellen argues with a colleague that at the moment’s college tradition isn’t radically far Left.
Positive, Jan.
ScreenRant presents an unique clip from #Anniversary, a provocative and well timed thriller starring Diane Lane, Kyle Chandler, Phoebe Dynevor, and Dylan O’Brien. The film arrives in theaters on October 29! pic.twitter.com/9KTECRT8C1
— Display screen Rant (@screenrant) October 22, 2025
The household’s youngsters seem uniformly progressive. Zoey Deutch’s character is a lawyer battling Large Oil over Local weather Change fears.
Sibling Anna (Madeline Brewer) is like a good much less humorous Chelsea Handler, screeching progressive speaking factors and not using a trace of humor. If the movie didn’t label Anna as a comic, we’d by no means know that’s her gig.
Liz quickly marries Josh (Dylan O’Brien), the household’s ne’er-do-well son, who finds objective together with her political motion. His evolution highlights the movie’s Large Message, and to his credit score, O’Brien shifts from befuddled to merciless in slick trend.
The movie’s hair and make-up workforce additionally captures the small bodily adjustments that happen to the characters over time. Too many movies can’t trouble with such manufacturing particulars, and it is a welcome exception.
The creators behind “Anniversary” are both mocking the fashionable Left or don’t notice their story usually does simply that. A number of members of the family are seen attacking US flags or taking down “Change” placards as in the event that they have been the heroes, not free speech deniers.
A Thanksgiving dinner sequence comes the closest to our present political divide. It’s simply what you anticipate, loving members of the family who can’t put politics apart for the sake of, properly, household.
“Anniversary” by no means comes near decoding Liz. Is she a monster, plain and easy? A misguided soul who stumbled upon the most recent dictatorial plan to make the world a greater place? It’s practically as irritating because the vagaries surrounding The Change.
Different points plague the story. Why doesn’t the household depart the nation, within the grand Rosie O’Donnell custom? The screenplay leaves loads of questions unanswered, simply because it fumbles the household’s descent into chaos.
The movie’s trailer and promotional materials conceal the movie’s larger objective. In a manner, “Anniversary” does as properly, a far larger downside.
HiT or Miss: “Anniversary” gives a cautionary story, however we’re left at the hours of darkness about what we’re alleged to concern.