After seeing and liking the Ashton Kutcher/Natalie Portman movie No Strings Attached, I was not super excited to see this one. Why pay to see the same movie or variation of a movie twice. But call it clever marketing but this movie was blanketed all over LA billboards and suddenly I found myself seeing it. Damn you advertising.
Movie: Friends With Benefits
Rating: R
Release date: July 22, 2011
Everyday Adventures’ grade: B+
Summary: Jamie (Mila Kunis) is a sassy NY headhunter looking to score an art director at GQ (OMG LOVE THAT MAGAZINE), who happens to be Dylan (JT). Dylan moves to NY, he and Jamie become friends, but after awhile, both want a benefits only relationship, which is good because they’re both pretty emotionally and romantically damaged. That plan to be friends with benefits goes awry (as if we expected anything else.)
My thoughts: Considering I already saw a movie similar to this in fall (cough No Strings Attached), I liked this much more than I thought I would. It was witty, sharp and well written. The dialogue and chemistry between JT and Mila is really fun to watch and they have a spark.
There is also a great supporting cast, unfortunately, we don’t get to see much of them. The cameos are great too (which I won’t ruin here). Patricia Clarkson is great as Mila’s mom and Woody Harrelson is pretty funny as JT’s gay coworker. The disappointing thing is that we don’t get to see much of them or get any real insight in to who they are, they’re existing in the story only on the surface and that’s it. Don’t get more invested. Okayyyy.
While I’m picking at holes in the script, I will say that there is a tease or set up multiple times during the family and past relationship issues that seem to keep both from being happy but that never really goes anywhere. So way to set it up and leave a girl hanging. Hello how can I deal with my issues? Anyhow, the heart in this movie with the dynamic between JT and Mila and they deliver. Let’s hope JT gets back to music but these two kids can find another project together. I’d watch that.
Verdict: If you hated No Strings Attached, you might not like this. So be safe and rent it. The spark and wit between JT and Mila is worth it.
