Love Buddies ~ Movie Review of ‘No Strings Attached’

Rumor has it that the romantic comedy is on its last leg, but I don’t think that is so, especially when ‘No Strings Attached’ was both romantic and humorous.  I believe the real issue is that too many films of this genre are far from funny and the romance is played out between characters that are not only annoying but are as realistic as residents of a Madame Tussaud’s museum.  However with Valentine’s Day around the corner (oops, this was written some time ago, what I meant was with Easter around the corner) I am happy to report that ‘No Strings Attached’ puts the romance back into the concept of ____ buddies.

 

                Ivan Reitman directed the film and is best known for the comedies he did from the late 70s through the 90s, particularly those that starred Bill Murray.  In fact he hasn’t directed a movie since 2006’s ‘My Super Ex-Girlfriend’ which was a romantic comedy that faded quickly from the box office (I saw it on cable and wasn’t overly impressed).  Ergo I didn’t necessarily have high hopes for ‘No Strings Attached’ and was sort of suspecting that I would be bored silly from my inability to laugh at things that aren’t funny thus I was happily surprised to find a film that had relatable characters who said intelligent things while making me chuckle.

 

                We meet the characters as they are teens attending summer camp.  Adam (Ashton Kutcher) is lamenting about his famous parents’ divorce while Emma (Natalie Portman) explains to him that emotions are messy and perhaps it is unnatural for couples to be together forever.  (There was an inquiry asked and shot down, but I’m skipping over that detail.)  Later the two meet up at a party Adam’s fraternity is throwing.  Emma is back in town to attend a family function to which she invites her ex unhappy camper.  Because it was a great laugh, I’m not going to reveal the reason for the occasion.  A few years later they meet again.  Emma is a doctor starting out her residency while Adam is a writer for a ‘Glee’ type of show.  They exchange numbers and think nothing of it since they seem to meet each other every few years but never really connect, well, that is until Adam’s girlfriend dumps him for someone close to him…very close.  It is then he starts drunk dialing all the lady numbers in his phone to only end up calling Emma.  They enjoy their fling so much that they, I mean she, decides it would be a good idea if they become friends with benefits. 

 

                Not only does Natalie Portman star in the film, but she was also one of the producers which says to me, especially after the year she is having, she really knows how to pick material.  Of course the movie not only sinks or swims on Portman’s performance but that of Ashton Kutcher who has been a controversial actor in terms of attracting a lot of Ashton haters.  I find him to be a charming actor (so sue me) and he definitely had his charisma going full tilt in this role.  ‘No Strings Attached’ also had in supporting roles Mindy Kaling, Ludacris, Lake Bell, and a welcome return of Kevin Kline to silver screen.                

 

                The screenplay was written by Elizabeth Meriwether, who along with fellow female screenwriters Diablo Cody, Dana Fox, and Lorene Scafaria are known around Hollywood as ‘The Frempire’.  Her script was solid in terms of relatable jokes.  For instance there are certain ways to talk about women’s monthlies without being misogynist or making male characters sound buffoonish and Meriwether’s script hit a memorable scene out of the proverbial ballpark. 

 

                ‘No Strings Attached’ is a good film to see in celebration of Valentine’s Day.  It might technically be a chick flick, but I think there are plenty of things in the film that make it palatable for the men in the audience.  I suspect the film will play just as well on DVD or cable. 

 

Westerfield © 2011