Love and Other Friends with Strings Attached

Disclaimer:  Yes, random, meaningless sex is not what God intended.  So please know that I understand this while describing the movies below.  To enjoy many movies that are released today, you have to essentially realize that people in movies aren't going to do what God intended, be it through physical hook-ups, language, violence or any number of things.  Now, whether we as Christians should be watching movies with such things is an entire discussion that is for another day.  So if you feel that you cannot watch nor enjoy any movie with such things in them, I'd suggest you skip this post... no hard feelings. =)

So, I almost feel like I watched the same movie three times... all three movies have to do with a guy and a girl who decide its a good idea to use each other for sex, and what happens when emotions get involved--because naturally they all do.  They all include a chick who has baggage and just can't commit, and a guy who has issues with his feelings for her, and they all three include what happens when one (or both) of the couples decide to venture out and date/do someone else.

The movies in question are:  "Love & Other Drugs", released November, 2010... "No Strings Attached", released January 2011... and "Friends With Benefits", released July 2011...

And here's how I rank 'em...


My Least Favorite of the Three:

Here's the thing... you have to like Natalie Portman, and you really have
to like Ashton Kutcher to enjoy this film fully

"No Strings Attached"
Directed by: Ivan Reitman ("Ghost Busters", "Twins", "Six Days Seven Nights")
Domestic Gross: $70,662,220
Rotten Tomotoes Rating: 49% on the Tomato Meter
The Guy: Ashton Kutcher, playing Adam, a TV production assistant
The Chick: Natalie Portman, playing Emma, a resident at a local hospital with commitment issues
Disease Involved:  None
Wacky Friend/Parent:  Adam's dad (Kevin Kline) and all of Emma's roommates
Rating:  R for language and sex.
Plot:  Two people who have busy, complicated lives meet up, have sex and agree that they should only do that, to the point where they make up rules to keep out emotion. But of course, one of them develops feelings for the other, only to find out the other has feelings to but is scared because of their past issues.
My Thoughts:  This wasn't a bad movie, really, but there was nothing special about it.  There doesn't seem to be much chemistry at all between Natalie and Ashton, and although all of these movies are predictable, this one is moreso. 


My Second Favorite of the Three:

Jake and Anne, in one of her rare moments with a shirt on

"Love and Other Drugs"
Directed by: Edward Zwick ("Glory", "The Last Samarai", "Legends of the Fall")
Domestic Gross: $32,367005
Rotten Tomotoes Rating:  48% on the Tomato Meter
The Guy: Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays Jamie Randell, a drug rep who sells Viagra as soon as its available
The Chick: Anne Hathaway, who plays Maggie Murdock, a senior citizen worker
Disease Involved:  Parkinson's Disease
Wacky Family Member/Friend: Josh, Jamie's boorish and lazy brother
Rating:  R, for lots and lots of Anne's boobies, plus language.  And sex.
Plot:  Two people who have busy, complicated lives meet up, have sex and agree that they should only do that, to the point where they make up rules to keep out emotion.  But of course, one of them develops feelings for the other, only to find out the other has feelings to but is scared because of their past issues.
My Thoughts:  The problem to me is that I truly like Anne Hathaway, but I'm not a huge Jake Gyllenhaal fan.  So while I could give Anne a 7 out of 10, I could only give Jake a 3 out of 10, averaging a 5.  The film does, however, have Judy Greer, who I'm a huge fan of, and she's a 8 out of 10, so that bumps it up to about 6.  The script is fun, and her dealing with Parkinson's Disease was something I didn't know about, and certainly didn't expect it to play a big of a role as it did.  There are way too many boob shots in this movie--almost like Anne Hathaway wanted to show off as much as possible. 


And Finally, My Favorite of the Three:

Its hard not to like Justin Timberlake, and Mila Kunis has
really grown on me, especially since "The Book of Eli"

"Friends With Benefits"
Directed by:  Will Gluck ("Easy A")
Domestic Gross: $38,200,000 (still in theaters)
Rotten Tomatoes Rating:  68% on the Tomato Meter
The Guy: Justin Timberlake, who plays Dylan Harper, an internet art director
The Chick: Mila Kunis, who plays Jamie Rexler, an executive recruiter in NYC
Disease Involved:  Alzheimers
Wacky Family Member/Friend:  Patricia Clarkson as Jamie's kooky mom;  Woody Harrelson as Dylan's gay, wacky sports director
Rating:  R, for language. No nudity except for butt shots.  Oh, and sex.
Plot:  Two people who have busy, complicated lives meet up, have sex and agree that they should only do that, to the point where they make up rules to keep out emotion. But of course, one of them develops feelings for the other, only to find out the other has feelings to but is scared because of their past issues.
My Thoughts:  In my own (un)humble opinion, the far superior of the three films.  The script is funny and light, and more real than the rest (the hilarity of the first hook up is a great example), the jokes are funny, and there is great on-screen chemistry between Mila and JT.  You end up liking both characters a lot, and by the time you find out Dylan's story--father with the beginning stages of Alzheimers--it doesn't feel like a ploy to get you to like him because you already do.  Jenna Elfman shows up as Dylan's sister and plays the part great (and cameos from Emma Stone, Andy Sandburg, Rashida Jones and Jason Segel are great too) and the whole romance is entirely believable this time around.  I liked this film alot, and will probably be the only one of the three to appear on The 100 Coolest Things of 2011... I asked The Lovely Steph Leann which of the three she would watch again, and she agreed that this one would be it. 

So there you have it... skip "No Strings Attached"... catch "Love and Other Drugs" if its around, but know the boobies are there... rent "Friends With Benefits"

The Summer of Blogging Day Forty Nine