Review of Friends with Benefits (2011) by Martinex — 24 Aug 2011
If you're going to poke fun at pop culture cliches you should make damn sure you're not committing them yourself. Like staging a flash mob in Times Square. Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake are fairly decent actors so I have to interpret their misreading of the main characters to bad direction (Am I the only one who thinks Emma Stone would have been a better choice for the lead than Kunis?).
Woody Harrelson does is best with the role of the gay sportswriter (a twist but still a cliche) and probably has the funniest moments of the film. Patricia Clarkson plays the cool but unavailable hippie mom who undoubtedly is the source of Kunis' insecurity.
Don't get me wrong there were some decent moments (John F'ing Mayer, Harrelson's relentless recruiting of hetero men) but the dialog seems forced and the "we're cooler than you are" premise falls short.
The one saving grace of this film is the undeniable attractiveness of the lead characters. Timberlakes' legion of female (and male) fans will leave the theater feeling they got their money shot, I mean money's worth.
This review of Friends with Benefits (2011) was written by Martinex on 24 Aug 2011.
Friends with Benefits has generally received positive reviews.
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