Friends With Benefits has an interesting premise, which is sex with no strings attached (hmmm…). A duplicate of a previously released film this is really not. Okay a little bit. Jamie (Mila Kunis) is a headhunter who recruits blogger extraordinaire Dylan Harper (Justin Timberlake) as the Art Director for GQ. They become friends. She admits she’s emotionally damaged, and he admits he’s emotionally unavailable. Imagine. They decide that being friends who sleep together suits them both for the time being. That time being only lasts so long then the rest of the romcom elements play out, with the familial problems at sub-plot points.
Kunis and Timberlake have great chemistry, but that’s about all that’s great about this film. Excess nudity replaces excellent dialogue. The plot really is strong, and along with the cute clichéd moments and witty banter, the film is enjoyable.
A 160 from Black Swan (the sexual activity warrants 20 degrees), this film really showcases Kunis’ comedic abilities, which are fairly excellent. Some of the lines that are supposed to be funny had me scratching me head. That’s not really her fault, though; it’s the writing. When she’s funny, she’s really funny, but when she’s not, it’s just awkward.
I keep waiting for Timberlake to release a new album, but I supppose he’s keeping busy acting — and his skills are not too shabby. His dialogue is comparable to Kunis’, but his dramatic skills are better than his comedic skills, which are charming at best.
With some of Hollywood’s finest as supporting players, this movie really should be better. Woody Harrelson as Dylan’s work cohort, Jenna Elfman as Dylan’s sister, Richard Jenkins as Dylan’s father and Patricia Clarkson as Jamie’s hippie mother all lend a helping hand to the movie, but all of them have a minute effect on the comedic and dramatic peaks this movie tries to achieve.
If you want to see Timberlake’s and Kunis’ backsides (sorry, no full frontal), then this is the movie for you. My only “I wish this film had” is at the end, Dylan should have hiked up his pant leg to show he wasn’t wearing any socks. You’ll have to see it to get it. If not, I hear some wizard film that’s pretty good is currently playing.
