Review of film: “FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS”

2011, 07-03 (re 06-08):

Review of film:  “FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS”

Earlier this year, Ashton Kutcher appeared with Natalie Portman in a film called “NO STRINGS ATTACHED”, about a couple who wants to be together with no EMOTIONAL attachments (just sexual ones) between them...

...  This new film has the SAME basic story line:

...  Dylan Harper (JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE) is a sharp & smart executive, working at a company in California.  He’s upset by the fact that he’s had a BREAKUP in his “un-committed” relationship with a pretty girlfriend... 

...  At one point, he’s contacted by a woman named Jamie (MILA KUNIS, from “THAT 70’s SHOW”).  She’s a “head-hunter” with a position she wants him to consider in New York City...  She herself has just had a breakup in HER latest quasi-“romantic” relationship...

...  Justin’s quite HAPPY where he is, but, feeling he has “nothing to lose” & liking the idea of a free trip, he ACCEPTS Mila’s offer to come to the Big Apple...

...  He interviews for a position running “G.Q.” magazine--  &, tho he likes what he sees & the situation offered to him, he’s NOT eager to accept the job...

...  Mila sets to work to show him some of the fun & “EXCITEMENT” of the New York area.  She’s cute, charming, “spunky” & sexy--  & he likes that she has the same “easy-going” attitude HE has about SEX--  namely, wanting a situation of “FRIENDS With BENEFITS” rather than any emotional attachments...

...  So, Justin ACCEPTS the new job...  Work at “G.Q.”  is fun & CHALLENGING for him...

...  One of his friends there is an openly-gay sports reporter guy named Tommy (WOODY HARRELSON), who provides a good deal of comic relief in the movie... 

...  Since Justin is good-looking, Woody would “prefer” that he be GAY--  but, since he’s not, Woody just “accepts” him as he is & tries to show him some of the “ins & outs” of New York life...

...  Justin happily welcomes friendship with Mila--  & especially enjoys the “BENEFITS” she readily provides for him sexually...  They TAKE PLEASURE in each other’s company, & have a very playful & humor-filled relationship...

...  One day, their “playing house” is interrupted by an unexpected visit from Mila’s MOTHER Lorna (PATRICIA CLARKSON), who lives in another state.  Patricia is somewhat “flaky” & has the same “sexually OPEN” attitude as her daughter...

...  Pat readily “accepts” Justin, encourages Mila to be WITH him, & is herself regularly on the “outlook” for her OWN “non-committed” relationship with a bunch of possible “new” guys...    

...  At one point, Justin gets contacted by his older sister Annie (JENNA ELFMAN) in California.  She reports that their dad (RICHARD JENKINS), who stays with her, is having increasingly bad DEMENTIA problems...

...  Being very attached to his father, Justin plans to go VISIT him immediately.  Altho he thinks her idea may be a bad one, he finally accepts Mila’s idea that she ACCOMPANY him there...

...  Jenna LIKES Mila--  but she’s told by Justin that she’s just a “FRIEND” rather than a “girlfriend”, & overhearing that upsets Mila...  Mila thereupon wants to be “DISTANT” from him sexually, which does not please Justin at all--  tho he acts like he’ll “accept” that...

...  You can see that Richard’s forgetfulness & all quite DISTRESSES Justin.  That becomes a situation that tends to intensify his “problems” with MILA, & she “distances”

herself even more from him (eventually starting to date a doctor named Parker (BRYAN GREENBERG)...

...  What (if anything) will Justin “DO” about his being on the “outs” with Mila?...  Will the “complications” tend to “overwhelm” their relationship?...  What will she do re getting “closer” to Bryan?... 

...  What will happen with Justin’s dad, & how will Justin “handle” that?...  Will Justin accept the urgings of various people that he try to get “BACK” with Mila?...  How will he “manage” his new GQ JOB (such as, will he stay there or seek ANOTHER situation)?...  

...  I quite ENJOYED this R-rated 109-minute film (opening nationally on July 22nd):

...  I felt the script & acting were considerably BETTER overall than “NO STRINGS ATTACHED” (tho I have some friends who don’t agree with that)...

...  This film was directed by WILL GLUCK, who also did last year's "EASY A" which starred EMMA STONE (who also has a very small part at the very beginning of this film).  I got a big kick out of that film because it had lots of what to me was smart & clever "PATTER" from the lead characters...

...  "FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS"  offers the SAME type of enjoyable rapid patter (with quick "come-back" comments), "surrounded" by a fine easygoing sexual PLAYFULNESS  between Justin & Mila (& also with Woody...  But, do understand that their “liveliness" is not particularly designed for young “kids” to see!)...   

...  I felt Justin & Mila really “connected” with each other as characters, & that's what the story was "about"...

...  You also observe some “SERIOUS” sides to Justin (re his dad’s condition & his warmth towards his nephew & all), so he’s not a mere “1-dimensional” character...

...  Woody’s role is funny & well-acted, without being “overbearing”...  Jenna & Richard (& Bryan & Patricia) are also effective in their characters, & I enjoyed an inherent EXPERTISE in the writing...

...  Accordingly, since I myself found the characters “believable” & very WELL-played, I’m rating this funny rom-com at 8.0 out of 10 stars...

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