Review of Friends with Benefits (2011) by Damjan R — 04 May 2013

For a film that aims to lampoon romantic comedy cliches it's sure is filled with some of the trappings of them. What does that say, that romance is doomed to be done the same way in films, well yes and no.

Great writers, even when they reach for the known and well established still do it somewhat fresh, and while this film starts fresh it ends on a bit of a film making sour note. With that said Timberlake and Kunis are great and feed of each other really well, with the supporting cast doing an able job focusing them and off course providing comedic moments.

The romance between the main characters still feels more natural and fun than in some of the more mopey and intense films that deal with love. The soundtrack has a few standouts including the Semisonic and Criss Cross numbers and the direction does nothing more outside of what Justin and Mila accomplish by themselves because the film has no particular visual style, and everything is just plain.

That said there's still fun to be had, and while the film shifts into familiar ground in the second half, it's not a total drag. Recommended for fans of rom com's everywhere.