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| Friends with Benefits, Will Gluck, 2011 |
The Gist
Filled to the brim with hilarious pop culture references, humorous dialogues, a little helping of romance here and there, and a great chemistry between Kunis and Timberlake, Friends with Benefits is an endearing rom-com that won't miss any chance to make you laugh. Falling in love with it is, however, an option.
The Good
- really great chemistry between Kunis and Timberlake
- humorous exchange of dialogues with proper pop culture references
- character development is well done, not a flat rom-com as it discusses things other than love
The Bad
- may feel a typical rom-com at times
Synopsis
Dan Harper (Timberlake) is employed as an Art Director of an L.A.-based blog that hits over 6 million views per month. Head hunter Jamie (Mila Kunis), reeling from a breakup, is overjoyed when she finally convinces Dan Harper to try out an interview as an Art Director for GQ Magazine, based in New York. Dan apparently wants to escape L.A. due to a recent breakup and while he feels that New York is not where he belongs, he thinks he might as well give it chance--partly thanks to Jamie's charming personality and persistence. As he settles himself down in New York, his friendship with Jamie grows into something that comes with benefits. They then both learn the hard way that sex and friendship are things that get sticky when mixed.
No Complications
What is so fun about this movie? It is unpretentious and simple. It's a rom-com that talks about sex and you get what is promised. There's also good character development to back up the good dialogues and some background plots that the movie don't take much time to focus on, but make the movie more fleshed out.
Hook Me Up
It's unanimous that Timberlake's and Kunis's chemistry are perfect and that without them, the movie would have been an absolute snooze fest. There is something magical about how easily they connect on-screen and how pleasant they look together. This also helped their acting, which I can only describe as spot-on.
The movie is really actually shallow and feel good, not much depth and can actually feel like a spent rom-com, especially with the cliche advise-realization of never letting go of that someone you want just because you are afraid. Yes, we heard that in every rom-com (like for instance Crazy Stupid Love), and while it is generally true, you'd wish sometimes that they come up with something better. But of course, this didn't stop the movie from being enjoyable. Actually, you will forgive it in the end for using the cliche as the execution of everything that follows and preceded it are very stylish and well-thought of.
Apparently, the director of FWB is the same director of one of my 2010 favorites: Easy A, so now I can't help but compare the two. Emma Stone has a cameo in the movie and Patricia Clarkson assumes the role of a messed up mother on this one as she did on Easy A. Another thing in common with Easy A and FWB is the extensive use of background plots that don't really add much to the main plot, but helps well in developing the characters' background story. Also, in both movies, there is an adorable kid throwing funny lines. And while Easy A is better in every way, it can't also be denied that FWB shines in its own right by being unpretentious and well-thought of. By admitting to itself that it is a rom-com made to make people laugh and believe in love, and commits to that admission, FWB is able to deliver a good movie.
Would it be worth your penny? Probably if you need a laugh. Kunis and Timberlake also bare plenty of skin in this movie and I mean plenty. So if you actually are curious, then it might be something you would want to pay for and see. With this movie, falling in love with it is not promised, but laughing is guaranteed.
The movie is really actually shallow and feel good, not much depth and can actually feel like a spent rom-com, especially with the cliche advise-realization of never letting go of that someone you want just because you are afraid. Yes, we heard that in every rom-com (like for instance Crazy Stupid Love), and while it is generally true, you'd wish sometimes that they come up with something better. But of course, this didn't stop the movie from being enjoyable. Actually, you will forgive it in the end for using the cliche as the execution of everything that follows and preceded it are very stylish and well-thought of.
Apparently, the director of FWB is the same director of one of my 2010 favorites: Easy A, so now I can't help but compare the two. Emma Stone has a cameo in the movie and Patricia Clarkson assumes the role of a messed up mother on this one as she did on Easy A. Another thing in common with Easy A and FWB is the extensive use of background plots that don't really add much to the main plot, but helps well in developing the characters' background story. Also, in both movies, there is an adorable kid throwing funny lines. And while Easy A is better in every way, it can't also be denied that FWB shines in its own right by being unpretentious and well-thought of. By admitting to itself that it is a rom-com made to make people laugh and believe in love, and commits to that admission, FWB is able to deliver a good movie.
Would it be worth your penny? Probably if you need a laugh. Kunis and Timberlake also bare plenty of skin in this movie and I mean plenty. So if you actually are curious, then it might be something you would want to pay for and see. With this movie, falling in love with it is not promised, but laughing is guaranteed.
My verdict:
A passing and recommended mark of 4/5.
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