Movie chronicles the challenge of friends with benefits
Natalie Portman is on the big screen again, fresh off her Golden
Globe win for her turn as a driven ballet dancer in
”
Black Swan.
”
In her latest film, she stars opposite Ashton Kutcher in a
romantic comedy directed by Ivan Reitman (of
”
Ghostbusters
”
fame.)
For viewers who have watched Portman grow up on screen, it was a
little odd to see her turn in
”
Black Swan,
”
which had some sexual scenes in it. But though
”
No Strings Attached
”
showed less flesh
– or at least less of Portman’s flesh – there was something
about her role that seemed even more off balance. It was just
awkward to hear some of the dirty barbs that came out of Portman’s
mouth as she played Emma.
Movie chronicles the challenge of friends with benefits
Natalie Portman is on the big screen again, fresh off her Golden Globe win for her turn as a driven ballet dancer in “Black Swan.” In her latest film, she stars opposite Ashton Kutcher in a romantic comedy directed by Ivan Reitman (of “Ghostbusters” fame.)
For viewers who have watched Portman grow up on screen, it was a little odd to see her turn in “Black Swan,” which had some sexual scenes in it. But though “No Strings Attached” showed less flesh – or at least less of Portman’s flesh – there was something about her role that seemed even more off balance. It was just awkward to hear some of the dirty barbs that came out of Portman’s mouth as she played Emma.
Adam (Ashton Kutcher) and Emma (Natalie Portman) meet at a summer camp when they are kids. Shown in a flashback, the two don’t really seem to have that strong a connection. Still, when they run into each other at a random frat party years later they recognize each other.
Emma invites Adam to a “thing” with her the next day, which turns out to be her father’s funeral. Again, the two don’t really seem to have much of a connection. But as fate would have it, they end up in Los Angeles 15 years after their initial meeting and run into each other at a farmers’ market downtown.
Emma and Adam exchange numbers, but he is dating Vanessa (Ophelia Lovibond) and she is working as a medical resident at a nearby hospital with no free time. They go their separate ways again.
Finally, a year later, Adam goes into a tailspin when he finds that his ex-girlfriend Vanessa (who broke up with him six months before) is dating someone new. That someone new is Adam’s father Alvin (Kevin Kline), an aging actor who had his heyday on an ’80s sitcom. Adam is distraught and decides to drown his sorrows in alcohol and a one-night stand. The only problem is every girl Adam calls turns him down – it’s one of the flaws in the plot that a guy who looks like Kutcher would have trouble finding a girl for the night.
The next morning Adam wakes up in a strange apartment with no clothes on. He doesn’t remember what happened the night before. When he sees Emma he is relieved and he is even more relieved when he realizes he didn’t have a one-night stand with anyone in her apartment. But that changes when they spend a few minutes alone in her room as he collects his clothes.
Adam thinks it is the start of something until Emma fails to return his calls except with one-word text messages. He is persistent, however, and he continues to call her. She gives in eventually and texts him for a late-night meet up. Soon Adam has agreed to be friends with benefits with Emma even though he seems to want more. Emma makes it clear from the start that she doesn’t want a relationship because she doesn’t have time for one, but more importantly because she doesn’t think they last.
After a few encounters, Emma decides they need some ground rules – no jealousy, no snuggling, no spooning – so that they don’t forget what they are doing and develop feelings for each other. The deal is that as soon as one of them develops feelings, the benefits end.
While the movie mostly focuses on Emma and Adam’s relationship – or lack thereof – each has a circle of friends to serve as the peanut gallery. Adam has Wallace (Ludacris) and Eli (Jake Johnson) who offer him misguided advice whenever he is feeling down about something or unsure about his relationship status. Emma has Patrice (Greta Gerwig) and Shira (Mindy Kaling) who offer sound advice that Emma doesn’t want to take about opening herself up more with Adam. The most frustrating thing about the movie is that there is never really any explanation for why Emma is so anti-relationship.
The only thing unpredictable about the movie is Alvin, and Kline is barely recognizable as an unkempt, washed up actor who spends most of his free time tripping on various drugs. He keeps the film a little off kilter, for better or worse.
Kutcher seemed at home in his character, though it wasn’t much different than his turn in other films as the good guy who eventually gets the girl – think “Valentine’s Day” or “What Happens in Vegas.” Portman seemed an ill fit for the role of Emma, so perhaps she will stick to more indie fare in the future.
In the end, the movie follows the same path as other recent romantic comedies and falls short. There was just a little chemistry missing from the mix.
Melissa Flores can be reached at
mf*****@pi**********.com
. Find out about her take on the 2011 Oscar nominations at http://melissa-movielines.blogspot.com.
