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With Friends Like These...

With Friends Like These... is a 1998 American comedy film directed by Philip Frank Messina and starring Robert Costanzo, Jon Tenney, David Strathairn and Adam Arkin. Bill Murray appears in a cameo.

Last revised
Jun 26, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
400 w
Citations
6
Source
With Friends Like These...
Directed byPhilip Frank Messina
Written byPhilip Frank Messina
Produced byRobert Greenhut
Penny Marshall
Amy Lemisch
Jon Ein (executive)
StarringBill Murray
Adam Arkin
CinematographyBrian J. Reynolds
Edited byClaudia Finkle
Music byJohn Powell
Distributed byParkway / Quadrant Films
Release date
  • 1998 (1998)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

With Friends Like These... is a 1998 American comedy film directed by Philip Frank Messina and starring Robert Costanzo, Jon Tenney, David Strathairn and Adam Arkin.12 Bill Murray appears in a cameo.1

The film was originally released on home video in 1998 and was later give a theatrical release in 2005.2

Plot

Four small-time two-bit character actors (Costanzo, Tenney, Strathairn, and Arkin), all close friends, are competing for the same important part in the next Martin Scorsese mob film.

Cast

Critical reception

The Village Voice, "Even a few strong strands of acting from David Strathairn aren't enough to stitch the threadbare script in this cheap mohair suit of a movie, where plot and characterization are drawn strictl off the rack. Only a mook could love it, and if you don't know what a mook is, go see With Friends Like These and be found—I mean find out."1

The New York Times, ""With Friends Like These," which was originally released seven years ago on home video, is only now surfacing as a theatrical release. Although it's no classic, it's a cut or two smarter than the average Hollywood comedy. At its best, it plays like a less acerbic, less Jewish triple episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." The movie's retrieval from oblivion is well deserved."2

References

References

  1. L'Official, Peter (February 22, 2005). "Tracking Shots: With Friends Like These". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on March 1, 2005.
  2. Holden, Stephen (February 25, 2005). "Choice Mob Role Leads to a Goombah Frenzy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015.
External links