Friends With Benefits

Release Date: Jul 22, 2011 

Runtime: 1 hr. 47 min.

Director: Will Gluck 

Cast: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson, Woody Harrelson, Jenna Elfman, Richard Jenkins, Bryan Greenberg.

The age-old question of can friends be intimate without complications has been around for decades, or as recent as this past January. But while the outcome is utterly predictable and riddled with clichés, "Friends With Benefits" offers its own take on it, and rides on chemistry to improve upon its forgettable doppelganger, "No Strings Attached." Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star as the experimental couple; he, as a commitment-phobe, and she, as an emotionally-damaged individual. Together, they strike up a perfect balance thanks to a convincing performance by both stars. Kunis continues to raise her stardom as the cool girl-next-door, while Timberlake is surprisingly bearable when he’s playing himself. Adding to the pair is Woody Harrelson as a gay sportswriter, whose comedic timing is impeccable whenever he’s putting Timberlake’s character down. What makes this movie work is its modern look on an old query, implementing cultural references that include flash mobs to digital technology. It’s understandable and all the more relatable when it’s in context and not taking itself too seriously. But when a movie is only as funny as its characters, it doesn’t quite apply when the story takes on a somber sideline. Though meant for character building, it comes too abruptly and digresses from the notion of being a romantic comedy. Nevertheless, “Friends With Benefits” has its perks, if not for Timberlake’s rendition of Kris Kross. 

Rating: 3 stars