Friends (TV Series) The One with Phoebe's Birthday Dinner (2002) User Reviews

The one they are all late to Phoebe's birthday

[Lady_Targaryen · 7/10 · 4 March 2009]

Phoebe set a dinner with the Friends in her birthday to celebrate the day. Only Mike cannot go because is busy, but everyone is invited.

Chandler is desperate when he sees that in Oaklahoma is allowed to smoke in the office, specially when all his workmates smoke. He ends up smoking many packs of cigarettes, and when he comes to New York to visit Monica,he still smells. Monica is ovulating and wants to have sex, but when she feels Chandler's smell, she stays angry with him. They argue, but Monica pretends to be okay with Chandler just to have sex with him and not lose her ovulation.

Rachel doesn't want to be separated from Emma, even having Phoebe's dinner to go. Ross do all his best to convince her that nothing will happen, but Rachel only accepts to go dinner if Judy (Ross' mother) and Emma comes too.

Joey and Phoebe stay a long time waiting for the other Friends to arrive, making Phoebe's birthday dinner to be terrible,even when the Friends arrive.

Good episode but it just makes you feel bad for Phoebe

[nichster291 · 7/10 · 27 October 2020]

I enjoyed this episode much like I enjoy most Friends episodes. But this episode has some problems. For example, the Chandler Monica smoking storyline is probably one of my least favourite storylines as no one likes to see our favourite married couple fight. Joey is on top form in this episode and the ending with him eating the dishes and getting the cake caps off a good episode for Joey. Rachel and Ross are fairly good in this episode, the highlight being Ross' imaginary story about Emma and an eagle. That bit had me laughing for ages. But otherwise its a bit meh and stuff I've seen before. You feel sympathy for Phoebe at the end but then she just ditches them? A bit weird writing but that's just Phoebe's character I guess.

Funny but not really good

[sofioropeza · 7/10 · 10 August 2023]

Although some of the lines are pretty funny such as the eagle story, and in general Joeys performance, I don't like this episode a lot.

It was understandable that Rachel and Ross were late when the lock themselves out of the apartment, but it was very unnecessary that even after they brought judy at the restaurant, Rachel was complaining a lot. It's perfectly understandable that she is nervous for leaving Emma alone, but the writers exaggerated.

Monica really is turning into an annoying character, she just didn't shut up about chandler smoking and her ovulating, they could just wait until after the dinner and be there for phoebe.

I don't understand how phoebe wasn't mad after no one cared about her birthday I was glad that Joey stayed and eat the dinner, he was the only one who proved be a true friend.

The One Where Everyone's Late...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 18 April 2015]

I love this episode. It's so funny. It's one of my all-time favorite Season 9 episodes, as well as one of my all-time favorites for the entire series.

In this episode, it's Phoebe's birthday and she's having a birthday dinner. She and Joey arrive and literally spend the rest of the episode waiting for the other guests to arrive. Whilst waiting, they're constantly asked to go to a smaller table, since bigger parties are waiting. I don't think that's fair considering they already have the table booked. It shouldn't matter. If no one else was ever going to come, then yes, a smaller table would be understandable, but it's not their fault that the other guests are late. The reason Chandler and Monica were late is because Chandler started smoking again, Monica got mad, but then she pretended to forgive him, so they could have sex, since she was about to finish ovulating. The reason why Ross and Rachel were late is because Rachel couldn't leave Emma, so in the end, Ross's Mum had to look after Emma, at the restaurant, because Rachel wouldn't leave her.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10.

A little mean spirited, but on the whole a funny episode

[studioAT · 5/10 · 5 August 2017]

While this is a funny episode of the show, it doesn't exactly show the characters (aside from Joey) at their best, as they all seem to put their lives before their friends.

I thought Matt Le Blanc was very funny here though. Full of charm and heart, it's lovely what the writers did to develop his character in the last few years of the show.

David Schwimmer also had some nice moments too, especially when telling the story about the 'whirlpool in the apartment'.

Sadly Monica is as annoying as ever, bossing Chandler around. I'm not sure where the writers were going with her at this point.

They might not have been the best friends here, but they were still on the whole funny.

The One with Phoebe's Birthday Dinner

[ComedyFan2010 · 4/10 · 6 September 2011]

I really don't like this episode. They are all such horrible friends here.

Can't stand how little Monica and Rachel care about Phoebe. She is one of their friends and they care more about ovulating or not being able to let a baby with a babysitter who is part of the family? I am amazed that Phoebe likes them more than Ross and Chandler.

Rachel is getting annoying with her crazy mother self. Not all women who have babies lose their brains

Monica is nasty. Can't stand her here. I was mad at Chandler for not putting out a cigarette on her face. And all she can talk about is ovulating

This episode somehow seems to want to show us that people in relationships don't care about their closest friends. Even Phoebe who shouldn't be like one of those lets them there for a guy she recently met. And the only decent person here is Joey, the single guy. At least he got all the food that he sure deserved

Frought with Lies and Anger

[sladky7 · 1/10 · 31 August 2010]

This episode is one of the worst and does not exemplify the brilliance of the show. The tone is depressing and uncomfortable to such a high degree that laughing is difficult. Nearly every character in this dark episode is angry or biting at another character. While this may reflect true life sometimes, it is unique to Friends' episodes. And although, the show's humor is often built around mishaps, this one feels too mean and thoughtless to fit in with the rest of the series. Except for Joey perhaps, every character is strongly inconsiderate at some point in the show without visible redemption or forgiveness. These are features that made Friends heartwarming, exemplary and enjoyable. Without it, you have sad dysfunction. Perhaps it just needed a bit more editing.

Run Chandler, Run!

[SamPamBam · 2/10 · 25 September 2020]

Monica is a horrid person. In real life, Chandler would pack his junk and get the hell out. You have a kid with this horrible woman you have ruint the rest of your life Run Chandler, Run!!

Everyone's Late

[vivianla · 30 December 2020]

It is Phoebe's birthday and everyone is to have dinner at an expensive looking restaurant.

Rachel and Ross get locked out of the apartment when they leave the key and shut the door. Emma is inside and they wait for Mrs. Geller to arrive.

Phoebe comes to the apartment and Mon answers the door in very sexy black lingerie. Her breasts look amazing. Chandler comes home and Phoebe says her breasts are like those of a Greek goddess. Mon wants sex because she is ovulating but the couple gets into a fight once Mon smells the cigarette smoke on him.

Joey is hungry and annoyed that the gang is so late. Everyone arrives and Mrs. Geller comes with Emma to the bar. Mike calls and Phoebe leaves to see him. The rest of the gang leaves except for Joey. He eats all their dishes and gets a birthday cake brought out to him.