Friends With Benefits (15) ****

Friends With Benefits (15) ****

Dir: Will Gluck

Starring: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Woody Harrelson

Synopsis: A young up-and-coming graphics designer (Timerlake) moves to New York to work for GQ magazine and befriends the headhunter (Kunis) who found him the job. Both tired of relationships, they decide add no-strings sex to their relationship which, inevitably, leads to more.

Verdict: The film opens with Jamie (Kunis) and Dylan (Timberlake) on their phones, Jamie at the cinema wanting to see go in and see a film, and Dylan running late and trying to get there. Instant reaction: they're the couple and it's a flashback scenario. Then you realise that they're in seperate relationships, on seperate sides of Ameica (LA and NY). An over-used series of edits, maybe, but there's no denying that it works in making the audience think something contrary to what they're doing.

After showing this hand the film becomes very predictable, from pointing out the flaws in rom-com movies just to copy them, to the plot itself. This predictability isn't helped in any way by the fact that earlier in the year we had No Strings Attached, exactly the same premis but released earlier in the year. This said, there are no end of films that are the same, such as body swap comedies (The Change Up is just about to be released) and Bridesmaids being almost a female version of The Hangover.

There is the slight deviation from the predictable, with Woody Harrelsons sports editor Tommy, the outrageously gay character who one would assume to be the gay best friend of Jamie, but is instead Dylans friend (who asks him, and pretty much every male he meets if they are gay). Tommy's in your face homosexuality (somewhat reminiscent of Jack in Will and Grace) provides some comic relief during some of the deeper moments of the film which is both welcome, but at the same time inappropriate - do the deep moments in film really need comic relief to detract from the anger/pain?

Speaking of The Hangover and Bridesmaids, I personally found Friends With Benefits to be a damn sight funnier than either of the previously mentioned films, with a mix of cringe worthy comedy and the plain daft (when they compare their 'rebellious' tattoos).

It also struck me whilst watching the film that alzheimers has become a disease of choice in Hollywood. We have gone from the truly brilliant and touching performance of the condition, to an equally touching depiction with Dylan's dad (played by Richard Jenkins), which is laced with humour (being a rom-com, there's only so much seriousness that can be put in isnt there?).

This is definitely a great date-night movie, with eye-candy for guys and girls alike, and some of the funniest moments to hit the silver screen so far this year.