Review of film: "NO STRINGS ATTACHED" (rom-com with NATALIE PORTMAN & ASHTON KUTCHER)

Review of film:  “NO STRINGS ATTACHED”

One of the common threads of attitudes by horny guys is, they’re always hoping & looking for a woman who’d be happy to have just a PHYSICAL relationship with “no STRINGS attached”…  That’s what we have here…

… Adam (ASHTON KUTCHER) has recently broken up with a girlfriend named Vanessa (OPHELIA LOVIBOND).  He’s less than “thrilled” when his TV-star FATHER Alvin (KEVIN KLINE) decides to get “with” her…

…  Ashton’s pal Eli (JAKE M. JOHNSON) urges him to go out & get “over” his upset, such as “living every guy’s dream” by getting a “friend with benefits” rather than getting involved in anything “serious”.  That’s heartily endorsed by their mutual friend Wallace (LUDACRIS)…

…  Ashton was reluctant to take their advice.  But, their idea seems to be moved “forward” by the way he gets drunk at a party & wakes up NAKED in an apartment with four people, unable to remember how he GOT there or what "happened": 

...  Emma (NATALIE PORTMAN) gives him a little info.  A bit more is learned from her roommates Shira (MINDY KALING, from “THE OFFICE”), Patrice (GRETA GERWIG) & a gay guy--  all of whom are nurses…

…  It turns out that Ashton & Natalie had met each other 15 years before, in a summer camp.  Even then, she was RELUCTANT to have serious relationships with guys, & that same basic situation is true now…  But, what she IS interested in is an enthusiastic PHYSICAL relationship with Ashton, who’s initially reluctant to do that (having been so hurt by his previous lover)…

…  But, Ashton’s pals encourage his “beneficial” actions with Natalie, & he soon gives IN to that idea…  But, where he would like to “cuddle” & get into an EMOTIONALLY-close situation with Natalie, she continues to reject that, just contacting him when she has some physical “needs”…

…  In time, we learn that Natalie’s sister Katie (OLIVIA THIRLBY) is soon to be married, & Ashton is in time introduced to her family--  who’s pleased to meet him, until Natalie tells them he is NOT really a “boyfriend”… 

…  Ashton wants to be a WRITER for the video production company where he works, but is afraid to SHOW anyone there his work, preferring to just quietly work as an assistant to the producers such as  Lucy (LAKE BELL) & Sandra Kurtzman (TALIA BALSAM)… 

…  When Ashton starts getting emotionally “attached” to Natalie, that makes her fearful & annoyed at his actions, which starts her making efforts that pull them APART.  She starts to consider possibly getting involved with doctors at the teaching hospital, such as Dr. Metzner (CARY ELWES)…

…  Will Natalie REGRET her avoidance of emotional closeness with Ashton?...  Will her actions turn him off so much that he seeks OTHER girls to spend time with?...  Will things “work out” between Kevin & his young girlfriend?... 

…  Will the unattached ”String” BREAK between Ashton & Natalie, or is there some “hope” for them?...  Will his love of writing ever “GO” anywhere?...  Will some UNEXPECTED relationships develop between some of the OTHER characters in the story?...

…  Most of the Romantic Comedies recently have been fairly POORLY done.  This one actually SUCCEEDS on a number of levels:  it’s often FUNNY (tho not side-splittingly so), sweet, & WELL-ACTED (even by Ashton, who’s serious & “restrained” rather than his frequently-overly-“bombastic” self)…

…  So, because it’s satisfying, generally “believable” & “WORKS” as a rom-com, I rate it as 7.5 out of 10 stars…