Friends With Benefits

You are about to read a very unlikely film review. You are about to delve into a film review about a movie of the romantic comedy genre, that is completely stellar. Publicity for this film has been absurd. I've been waiting for this movie to come out probably since May. However, I've been waiting for it from a very skeptical stand point. As I have discussed in earlier blogs, Justin Timberlake, in his recent film endeavors, has yet to really "tickle my fancy" with his performances. After all, it is just a romantic comedy, and you can only expect but so much, right? I saw No Strings Attached, starring Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher a few months back, which is a movie with the exact same plot concept as that of Friends With Benefits, also very well-publicized and highly anticipated, and it didn't live up to the hype for me. It was good, but it wasn't great, but how often does one say a romantic comedy is great?

Friends With Benefits, on the other hand, is a totally different story. I, in no way, expected to like this movie as much as I did. I loved it, and I would see it again. I like a good ol' romantic comedy just as much as the next girl does. But never have I had a desire to pay to see one twice.

Mila Kunis is fantastic. I love her. I think she's a natural and I cannot say this about a lot of actresses today, but I completely understand the hype surrounding her in Hollywood and in the public eye. She's cool. She's funny. She's spunky and she just doesn't seem like the average chick. I would bet that the character she played in this movie is pretty close to her character in real life. This means that the movie may not have been a huge display of her acting capability, but it sure as hell told me that she's someone I would want to hang out with.

Justin is funny. He's funny and genuine and that is the first time I can say that out of probably all the films I have seen him in. He plays a real person and he's totally natural. I loved watching him in this. Did I mention he's hot? I mean, extra hot. His body? Ridiculous. Six pack, washboard abs and that rear end of his? You have the pleasure of seeing that several times throughout the film. And, yes, it is an absolute pleasure to see.

Timberlake and Kunis are both beautiful, they look great together, and their chemistry in the movie is fantastic. You actually believe that the two of them are best friends that just decided to have sex. They play that messy situation very well. There are a lot of sex scenes in this, obviously, and even in romantic comedies, sex scenes can be a little awkward to watch. All of these scenes in Friends With Benefits are pure comedy. I am not sure if that is because the movie is so well written and well directed (director, Will Gluck who also directed Easy A), or if it is because Justin and Mila are so great together.

The movie is very "cool." It is based in New York City and it stays true to NYC roots and culture. Kunis' character, Jamie, when they first meet, takes Dylan, Timberlake's character, to a flash mob occurring in Times Square to try to convince him to make the move from Los Angeles, to New York for the new job at GQ that she has recruited him for. New York City culture is very much an active part of this movie. It drives the development of the relationship between the two lead characters and is evident even down to the fashion worn by Justin and Mila.

The other great part about this film, that sets it apart from No Strings Attached, specifically, is the fact that each character had a reason for only wanting a sexual relationship. They had some hang up because of some situation from their past, and the movie explained it, and delved into this very human part of each of them. I loved that. I loved that you get to know Dylan's dad, and Jamie's mom and that through those relationships came the explanation for Dylan and Jamie's weaknesses.  I am not sure if everyone will like this movie as much as I did, but I loved it. I connected to it for some reason, and I may still be on a high from seeing it, but it actually might be the best modern day romantic comedy that I have ever seen.