Who is Jennifer Aniston? Is she “More Than Friends?” According to a new hybrid-style biographical documentary titled Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends, she is quite a bit more than Rachel Green, the character she played in the long-running, ten-season TV series “Friends.” Her crucial role in Friends won her 16 Golden Globe awards, SAG, and Emmy nominations with three wins. She has had a spectacular career that includes Friends and a long series of popular, successful films. Aniston has accomplished much, but not many people and fans realize how far she has come. This film brings everyone up to date.
The documentary Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends follows Aniston’s transition to film in ‘Bruce Almighty’ (2003), ‘The Break-Up’ (2006), ‘Marley and Me’ (2008), ‘Just Go with It’ (2011), ‘Horrible Bosses’ (2011), Horrible Bosses 2 (2013) and ‘We’re the Millers’ (2013), each with over $200 million in box office receipts. She received positive reviews for ‘Office Space’ (1999), ‘The Good Girl’ (2002), ‘Friends With Money’ (2006), ‘Cake’ (2014) and ‘Dumplin’’ (2018). Life came full circle with a return to television in 2019 on Apple TV+’s ‘The Morning Show’ where she earned two Golden Globe nominations and a S.A.G. award win from the first season. The film is Directed by Danielle Winter and produced by Dana Webber, ‘Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friendsis distributed by Legacy Distribution.
Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends uses interviews, archival coverage of Aniston, commentary by Dr. Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, Ashton Pearson, a voice-over narrator, clips from Friends, specific films, and action “B” roll to create a well-edited, informative, and entertaining sixty-minute introduction to Ms. Aniston’s life mainly focusing on her career. The documentary will be instructive to anyone unfamiliar with all the actor’s credits. The film offers fans of Jennifer Aniston many moments that touch on personal aspects of her life, like her two marriages and divorces. These events may have impacted her life, but to what extent is not explored beyond public speculation.
As portrayed in Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends, Jennifer Aniston reveals a talented, funny, and sensitive actor who has worked hard for her success. Her successful role in Friends was not her first attempt at TV. Like most actors, she was not an overnight sensation. Ultimately, an opportunity presented itself. At the same time, she was offered the role in Friends and a role in NBC’s Saturday Night Live Comedy Show.
Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends is a well-crafted hybrid documentary with a legitimate point-of-view regarding Ms. Aniston’s talent and career. This approach makes the documentary a must-see for any aspiring actor. There are many clips of Ms. Aniston talking or being interviewed at some event. These candid moments create some reach beyond the actor we see on the screen. Her interaction with the other actors from Friends feels spontaneous. Also, her appearances with actors from some of the movies she was in, like with Adam Sandler. But they are still not Ms. Aniston “off-screen.” One wonders what she is like in a more personal setting. Granted, this documentary is not that kind of vehicle. It is a promotional documentary about Jennifer Aniston and her many achievements.
The feature-length, inside story Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends is now available on Amazon Prime.
Watch now (links) on Amazon Prime | TubiTV
Review by James R (Jim) Martin
James R (Jim) Martin is an Emmy, award winning producer, writer, director of film, television, video, multimedia and digital media productions. He has lectured on documentary subjects internationally. Most recently in several universities and forums in China. He directed the documentary filmmaking course at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. He has taught directing at University of Central Florida and Film Production at Columbia College in Chicago.
Author: Create Documentary Films, Videos and Multimedia – Third Edition 2014, Actuality Interviewing and Listening – 2017, Listen Learn Share, 2018, Documentary Directing and Storytelling, 2019. Editing Documentary and Fiction, to be published soon.
Directing Credits include two Emmy nominations and an Emmy Award for PBS documentary – Fired-up Public Housing is My Home. The Chicago Film Festival Golden Plaque for Best Network Documentary for Emmy nominee, Wrapped In Steel, also seen nationally on PBS stations. Telly Award 2018, JP’s Wish documentary, Make-a-Wish Foundation.
