Directed by:
Will GluckCinematography:
Michael GradyCast:
Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson, Nolan Gould, Richard Jenkins, Jenna Elfman, Bryan Greenberg, Andy Samberg (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
Dylan (Justin Timberlake) is done with relationships. Jamie (Mila Kunis) decides to stop buying into the Hollywood clichés of true love. When the two become friends they decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction - but without any emotional attachment. Physical pleasure without the entanglements. Sounds easy enough for two logical adults, right? Not so much. They soon realize romantic comedy stereotypes might exist for a reason. (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
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Reviews (11)
At the start of Friends with Benefits, director Will Gluck bids adieu to the protagonist of his “Hughes-ian” Easy A (a surprising cameo by Emma Stone), thus transitioning from an immature schoolgirl to adult characters who take sex as a natural part of life and a condition for their own contentment. I would highlight “their own”, but there are no feelings involved and the mere satisfying of physical needs is the reason why Dylan and Jamie end up in the same apartment and in the same bed. Unlike the protagonists of more conservative romantic comedies, they aren’t shy about openly saying what they want from each other. Long gone are the days when THAT, always hanging in the air, was never mentioned (the “Lubitsch touch”). With its wild pace during the first half, Friends with Benefits is nevertheless reminiscent of classic screwball comedies (including the nice work with contrasts both between the sexes and between New York and LA), though the filmmakers’ intention was probably to nostalgically recall the sexually guileless hippie era. Seemingly flown in from that era is the wacky mother played by Patricia Clarkson (who somewhat repeats herself; see Whatever Works), and the 1969 open-relationship comedy Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice runs on the television in Jamie’s apartment. The film’s ending is predictably far from being any kind of (sexual) revolution, but the likable actors get to it with their heads held high despite the aptly depicted, though shoddily constructed, relationship obstacles placed in their path. (I concede that they rather stumble toward the end.) Yes, even Justin Timberlake, whose acting I promise not to make fun of anymore. 75%
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Much better than No Strings Attached, but it's also no prize. The whole thing follows a typical template from beginning to end. Far more sympathetic and believable than the main protagonists were almost all of the supporting characters, undoubtedly the best of which was the perfect Woody Harrelson. The guy is just divine. I also expected it to be even funnier, even though the gag with the mobile app to identify "women's days" is perfect.
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I was secretly hoping for someone to finally bring a new angle to the romantic comedy genre, but I was disappointed yet again. The filmmakers slavishly copied the established format. Apart from a decent cast, there was practically nothing to be excited about. Actually, there was something. I was glad that there wasn’t too much pathos to wade through at the end. I was also surprised that there weren’t that many funny moments; I would expect some given that it was a comedy.
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The non-violent banter between Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis is unusually charming and authentic, and it exudes an unbelievably positive energy that the main characters cleverly spice up with an unprecedented pack of spicy dialogues and clever linguistic tricks. And as long as it successfully suppresses all those generic romcoms of the past decade, everything is fine. Unfortunately, inevitably, there has to be a resolution and in the last act and suddenly we find ourselves a step lower, that is, in the category of a quality romantic comedy that fails to offer anything extra and does not embellish the constantly evolving genre in any way.
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Entertaining and almost unexpectedly sincere. Unlike the cheap pulp with Natalia that was filmed in this country about six months ago. Although Mila can be a little strange at times, Justin Timberlake rocks again. Although the concluding melodrama is over the top, even there we can find some tongue-in-cheek moments that show that this movie doesn’t take itself too seriously after all. A well-made snack.
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