Following her Golden Globe winning performance in Black Swan, Natalie Portman decided that it was a good idea to team up with perennial flopper Ashton Kutcher in the rom com No Strings Attached. The plot, which differs from the advertisements, is centered on a couple that gets to know each other while attempting to keep their relationship at a purely physical level. Though the story is only the surface. Strong comedic elements are strung throughout to round out the shallow exchanges between Portman and Kutcher. I wouldn’t begin to claim that there are endless laughs but some are pretty good. A well-timed Rick Moranis reference tickled me most.
The film is quick to establish the reason for its R rating, unnecessarily dirty language in the opening scenes. Well actually they keep referencing the same few dirty jokes. But things settle down with the help of comedic genius Ludacris. I write it in a sarcastic tone, but he is pretty funny in the movie. Kutcher’s performance is borderline likeable, which is unexpected these days. Portman, not so much. But most players had their moments.
Cutting some of the ridiculous beginning portion of the movie would help drastically with the dragging pace. 110 minutes may not seem that long but it is in this instance. Every development repeats itself causing static points in the story arch. But possibly the best part of No Strings Attached is that Ivan Reitman is back in the director’s chair. It doesn’t necessarily mean much, but if the third Ghostbusters is to be made, his skills behind the camera need to be fresh. That has very little to do with this movie, but what can I say? (7.1 out of 10)
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