Friends With Benefits (15)

Starring: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake

Anthony Quinn
Friday 09 September 2011 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

You can tell this romantic comedy thinks it's a cut above from the way it keeps sniggering at the feebleness of other romantic comedies – a risky strategy, as it turns out.

The friends in question are GQ art director Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis), a New York "headhunter" who persuaded him to move from LA. The gimmick is that since neither wants to settle down they can just have uncomplicated sex – "like playing tennis," he says. No strings but, fatally, not much charm either; the screenplay mistakes facetiousness for wit, and the couple's pretensions to be at the cutting edge – flash mobs, iphone apps – doesn't make them look any smarter. The saving grace is Patricia Clarkson as Timberlake's flaky, party-loving mum, who also comes up with the neat coinage LOMBARD for a type of male suitor: Lots of money but a real dullard. That's good – too good for this film.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in