Film Review: ‘Friends With Benefits’ is the Summer’s Best Rom-Com!

Gaby’s thoughts: Hands down, Friends with Benefits is one of the best romantic comedies to come out in years. I bet you’re thinking “Wait… didn’t a movie just like that come out early this year?” Yes, Ashton Kutcher’s and Natalie Portman’s No Strings Attached came out in January. While we did enjoy that one, Friends with Benefits is just infinitely more times better. Director/writer Will Gluck (Easy A) knows how to make non-nauseating romantic comedies. He hit it out of the park with Easy A last year and his new movie is just as great.

Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis star as the friends with benefits. I bet you’re thinking “Shouldn’t have this one been called No Strings Attached?” N’Sync references aside, Timberlake has transformed into quite a good actor. After much acclaim for his role as Napster founder Sean Parker, in The Social Network, Timberlake has become one of the “It” young actors. Friends with Benefits is just his speed, especially working opposite the darling and sassy Mila Kunis. And also very different from her role in Black Swan, Kunis proves once again that she could hit some good comedic timing.

What I love about this movie is that it’s a romantic comedy that makes fun of romantic comedies. It’s not as insufferable or clichéd like many other rom-coms. This one really stands out, especially with a supporting cast that includes the awesome Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson and Richard Jenkins.

I absolutely recommend this movie to everyone. If you love Easy A, then it’s practically guaranteed that you will enjoy Friends with Benefits!

Lucy’s thoughts: I had really low expectations of this movie, thinking it was going to be somewhat like No Strings Attached, in which they fell in love with each other way too soon, in my opinion. Friends With Benefits is AWESOME! You are guaranteed to laugh throughout the whole movie, Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis make a great comedic duo and actually don’t fall for each other so easily. Will Gluck, aka the mastermind behind the hilarious Easy A, does a great job putting together the cast of Friends With Benefits and a really funny script.

I have to admit, I hate the fact that No Strings Attached was released earlier this year, because it should not even be compared to Friends With Benefits even though they kind of have the same story line. Dylan (Justin Timberlake) is dumped by his girlfriend because she says he is too “emotionally unavailable”, meanwhile, Jamie (Mila Kunis) is too “emotionally damaged” to keep on a relationship with her boyfriend. We’ve been through this whole “its not you its me” thing, and how people will come up with the most random excuses to break up with someone, in a way, Friends With Benefits will relate more to the audience making fun of what romantic comedies do, like adding am upbeat song at the credits that has nothing to do with the movie, etc.

Friends With Benefits should have been the only movie released this year that talked about a guy and a girl having a relationship based solely on sex, and boy, is Friends With Benefits FUNNY! Make sure you go see it!

Friends With Benefits will be released in the US on July 22nd.

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