FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS – The Review

There’s nothing more cliché in Hollywood today than the run-of-the-mill romantic comedy, complete with a predictable structure, cheesy humor and sappy fairy tale romance. FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS is the story of two cynical people who attempt to bypass all the typical pitfalls of a traditional relationship by agreeing to have a purely casual sexual relationship while maintaining a friendship and healthy professional relationship. Needless to say, this experiment is doomed.

Justin Timberlake (SOCIAL NETWORK, ALPHA DOG) plays Dylan, a talented and successful creative director for a small but profitable blog in Los Angeles. Mila Kunis (BLACK SWAN, THE BOOK OF ELI) plays Jamie, a corporate headhunter trying to convince Dylan to take a job with GQ magazine in New York. In the process, they become friends “with benefits,” but nothing more.

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS is directed by Will Gluck, a filmmaker now three-for-three in comedy. His first feature is the hilariously immature FIRED UP! (2009) followed by his surprisingly well-received, Scarlett Letter inspired EASY A (2010). This film once again takes an otherwise standard genre of comedy and attempts to twist it up a bit with moderate success. Dylan and Jamie repeatedly make references to how movies typify relationships in the least realistic ways. Gluck takes this theme and runs with it throughout the film, occasionally slipping ever-so-slightly off the path. The story eventually takes a u-turn that opens Dylan’s and Jamie’s eyes to their imperfect perspectives of themselves and each other.

Aside from being a sight for sore eyes, Mila Kunis gives a commendable performance on her own merit, but her true value in FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS come through in her chemistry with Justin Timberlake. Together, these two contemporary icons of sex appeal actually pull off some delightfully sharp, sarcastic dialogue with a natural smoothness. The fast-paced beat of the dialogue moves the 109-minute running time along nicely. The only technical issue I found with the film was that some of the editing is a bit jarring, leaving me wish Gluck was more comfortable allowing the camera to linger on shots, rather than feeling the need to constantly be cutting from one character to another.

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS is rated R for some violent content (a laughable explanation) and brief sexuality. Honestly, I think the MPAA got these explanations mixed up, as there is no shortage of sexuality. As for the “violent content” in the movie, this must be referring to an extremely harmless a playful cameo from Olympic snowboarder Shaun White. Additional cameos include Emma Watson (EASY A) and Andy Samberg who play Dylan and Jamie’s previous relationships gone awry.

The supporting cast is also nothing to laugh at, or actually, they are. The recently absent Jenna Elfman (KEEPING THE FAITH, DHARMA & GREG) returns as Dylan’s sister Annie, proving her comedic skills haven’t expired. Woody Harrelson (ZOMBIELAND, THE MESSENGER) plays Tommy, the gay sports editor of GQ magazine who befriends Dylan. Harrelson’s performance produces laughs, but is the weakest link because he’s a bit too over-the-top. Patricia Clarkson (EASY A, WHATEVER WORKS) is a pleasure to watch as Jamie’s wild card mom, nailing her character and her comedic timing.

However, the true highlight of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS is Richard Jenkins’ performance as Dylan’s father. Jenkins (LET ME IN, THE VISITOR) is outstanding as a man suffering from Alzheimer’s, adding a wonderfully mastered blend of low-key humor and dramatic confidence that adds a layer of depth to an otherwise shallow pool of meaningful storytelling. Once again, Jenkins shows his long-awaited rise to notoriety is well deserved, specifically during the airport steak dinner scene with Dylan, a scene that will likely pull you out of the comedy for a refreshing and eye-opening moment of cinematic clarity.

I would be wrong not to mention the music and many pop-culture nods in FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS that add to the film’s success. The soundtrack features music from Fitz and the Tantrums and Rogue Wave, but also includes throwback tracks from G. Love and Special Sauce, and Kris Kross’ Jump, which actually serves as a setup for one of many funny moments. Overall, FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS is filled with laughs and memorable dialogue. It may not be a film with a terribly strong message, but it should leave you smiling as you leave the theatre, making it well worth the ticket price.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars