Review 772: No Strings Attached
At the core of No Strings Attached is a simple question: it possible to regularly have sex with someone and not run a risk of falling in love? The simple answer is Yes. Now that we have that out of the way, is there anything else to chew on in this simple rom com? Actually, there is.
The set up is pretty straightforward: Emma Kurtzman (Natalie Portman fresh off a stellar turn in Black Swan) and Adam Franklin (Ashton Kutcher) Emma works as a doctor while Adam is a production assistant on a Glee-like TV show. Emma sets up a seemingly perfect arrangement when she offers Adam a relationship with one rule: No Strings Attached. But when a fling becomes a thing, can sex friends stay just friends? What could possibly go... right?
No Strings Attached was directed by Ivan Reitman who previously directed Ghostbusters (1984) and its inferior sequel as well Meatballs and Stripes and whose directorial efforts have become increasingly scarce over the last several years. Is it any wonder then that this particular rom com feels a lot sharper, at times witty than most films in this genre to come out in recent years?
The screenplay by Elizabeth Meriwether
The score by John Debney is delightfully quirky
Natalie Portman & Ashton Kutcher make for a lovely & charming onscreen couple. Portman, in particular, who is sure to win the Oscar for Black Swan. I’m certain that she thought working on this film Adam & Emma have known each other since summer camp and have bumped into each other on several occasions over the years but never stay in touch.
Thankfully, the two of them are bolstered by a very strong supporting cast including Greta Gerwig and Mindy Kaling as Emma's two friends, Patrice and Shira, Lake Bell as Lucy, Adam's neurotic co-worker, Jake Johnson and rapper Ludacris (yes really) as Adam's two best friends Wallace and Eli, Olivia Thirlby as Emma's younger sister Katie.
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