No Strings Attached

I’m working through my back-log of theater and film reviews for productions I have seen in the last four months, so please bear with me if these reviews seem like past news!  Since Friends With Benefits is still due to be released, I thought it would make sense to post this review and then compare both movies. 

I thought No Strings Attached was a pretty enjoyable movie.  Predictable at times but still funny and entertaining.  Ashton Kutcher was actually likable as a struggling writer stuck being a Production Assistant for the High School Musical-esque show he wants to be on the writing staff for.  He was more grown-up and grounded than other characters he has played, which made his portrayal more realistic and likable.  Natalie Portman was quite amusing and likable as a young doctor who initially resists his romantic advances until the morning after a drunken party when they end up in bed together and decide to give “friends with benefits” a try.  They do make a good couple, and have some chemistry with each other.

The movie also benefits from a strong supporting cast.  Mindy Kaling has some great one-liners as a roommate/co-worker of Natalie Portman’s and Greta Gerwig has some scenes as well as a longtime friend.  Kevin Kline hams it up as Ashton Kutcher’s father, a washed-up actor dating annoying women half his age, including Lake Bell as a funny and very awkward co-worker of Kutcher’s.  Abby Elliot makes the most of her screen-time in a small role as a waitress. The upcoming Friends with Benefits will probably top this movie, but it wasn’t a bad movie at all.