Review of No Strings Attached (2011) by Darknessangel F — 29 Feb 2012

"I think monogamy goes against our basic biology.".

Synopsis: Emotionally unencumbered and sexually satisfied, friends with benefits Emma and Adam have an open relationship that suits them just fine. That is, until those pesky little things called feelings enter the picture.

There are two reasons I tend to avoid watching romantic comedies. The first, is I find it annoying to see incredibly good looking people whine about how bad their romance life is, that they can't choose between the thousand of choices presented to them. It's legitimate circumstances of course, but dramatizations of such people tend to make me roll my eyes. Secondly, is they follow a painfully predictable plot arch, and by the end of the picture the two leads embrace each other as the screen fades to black. No Strings Attached offends on both such fronts.

The initial third of the film was borderline painful for me. I was left cold as the characters participated in casual sex with numerous partners, like I was watching a movie that stated the more attractive individuals of the world are the ones who are more valuable. This first act of the film is the whole crux of the picture, the statement for which it was (theoretically) written to say, and it doesn't work as the filmmakers alienate it's audience.

Interestingly though, as the film begins it's cop out and descends back into more familiar and conventional territory; the picture warms up and one's attention begins to focus on the well written gags, the strong directorial effort, and the solid acting from it's two leads. By the end of the picture I realized I was actually enjoying myself. Regardless of the fact that the picture's narrative turned into typical rom com fodder.

The picture loses it's reason for existing a third of the way into it's runtime, but it's well written dialogue, strong direction, and noticeable chemistry between it's two leads, means you'll probably enjoy No Strings Attached anyways.