With all the comparisons to January’s No Strings Attached, Friends with Benefits would seem to be the latest attempt to capitalize on sex infused humor. Though Benefits uses the clichéd plot of friends who want to get cozy while avoiding the relationship aspect, as a placeholder for the movie they intended to make. In other words, there is comedy, emotion, and charm throughout the script and the moments in the bedroom are there to provide the hook and advertising focus, but never be the film’s most important aspect.
Justin Timberlake’s comedic acting ability has risen to the likes of Hollywood’s best. But his overall ability shows just how valuable he is for being able to balance varying emotions on screen. I can’t say that he is perfect in this effort, but since he and, the usually quite reliable, Mila Kunis stumble in the same scenes I have to write it off as awkward scripting. Like how Timberlake gets brought into a flash mob and then later uses one for an advertising campaign. It comes off as forced and strange. Since these instances are isolated, they don’t make or break anything.
The film surprisingly thrives with the use of its minor characters. Woody Harrelson has some of the script’s best one-liners as a creepy but loyal coworker of Timberlake. And Jenna Elfman, with Richard Jenkins, adds back-story and depth, which is not usually given in comedies like this. At times there is such an attempt at being different from other romantic comedies that they prohibit the viewer from getting engrossed in the story. There is even a fake rom-com that is repeatedly watched (starring Jason Segel and Rashida Jones) to try and prove how different Friends with Benefits is. It all comes across as overkill. By the way, did I mention the Andy Samberg and Emma Stone cameos? I smell spin-off. Actually, that’s not likely, but it would be funny. (7.5 out of 10)
No comments:
Post a Comment