Romantic comedy in which Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis play two professionals too busy to settle down. They decide to step their relationship up a notch, while keeping it casual at the same time. Complications arise when Justin falls for Mila...
It might have seemed like an inspired idea: a romantic comedy without the romance and all the sex, starring funny it-girl Mila Kunis and the guy who brought sexy back. But there’s little to find funny or sexy in Friends With Benefits, a film that aims to be fresh and comes off as a flimsy, forced fornication-fest for the Y generation. (For all the mentions of iPads, video blogs and flash mobs, why the abysmal ‘90s soundtrack?)
Easy A writer-director Will Gluck mocks Katherine Heigl films for being implausible and clichéd yet winds up committing the same cinematic crimes. For starters, the friendship between Kunis’ Jamie (who’s damaged) and Timberlake’s Dylan (afraid to commit) comes on stronger than a New York martini, any professionalism that might have preceded their meeting (she head-hunted him for a job at GQ) evaporating the instant they lie side by side on a New York rooftop. And whilst there are a few amusing moments during the sex scenes, written to be pragmatic rather than erotic, the couple’s emotional intimacy feels as forced as an actor and a pop star thrown together in a room with cameras in their faces. Nor does it help that JT spends the majority of the time in Kunis’ shadow, her effervescent performance giving this most of its sizzle.
Likewise, the mad side characters – Jamie’s flaky hippie mother (Patricia Clark), Dylan’s Alzheimer’s-affected dad (Richard Jenkins) and Dylan’s deranged gay workmate (Woody Harrelson) are clearly planted as convenient devices to get this supposedly platonic couple together. This ain’t a quickie either, the climax coming too late.
By Rebecca Barry Hill, Flicks.co.nz
good to see some new faces on the romcoms, fun movie even the man liked it
i'm getting sick of Timberlake. he seems a bit ubiquitous lately...SNL, social network, in time, this. however Mila Kunis is always good. almost as good here as she is on family guy.
There were a few laughs. Justin Timberlake was an unlikeable character which is a good move for him. Mila was a spunk. Great soundtrack
What can I say. predictable plot - definately. But Mila's and Justins chemistry reazlly sold it to me, as well as the fresh dialouge which definately made made laugh out loud at some stages. So yeah, worth a watch, and if you liked "no strings attached" you will love this one. Predictable though. But great!
Justin & Mila work well in this movie as a couple with everything that goes on in their world they grow together as friends & apart when she has to push him away, He wont hear of it & tries everything to get back with her....
Romantic comedies - and this is one, in spite of its phony irreverence - turn largely on star power, and theirs is transcendent, whether they're casually trading one-liners on the streets or doing running commentary on their sexual escapades. They'd have been better off staying in bed.
The news about this movie is that it makes it clear that both Timberlake and Kunis are the real thing when it comes to light comedy.
This coasts along just fine thanks to charm and comical interludes, but it fails to deliver the sassy story it promises.
Goes a long way in bringing sexy back to a soggy genre, benefiting greatly from the presence of its likable leads.
Slipping a buff Justin Timberlake and a toned Mila Kunis between the sheets as the naughty but nice romantic pair turns the heat up considerably in this happily never after tale.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Thursday, 15th Sep 2011.
Release date: September 15th 2011.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
