Rating:  

The Montecito Picture Company, Cold Spring Pictures, DW Studios, Handsomecharlie Productions, Katalyst Films, PIC Agency, Spyglass Entertainment, and Paramount Pictures.

Written by: Elizabeth Meriwether, story by Mike Samonek and Elizabeth Meriwether.

Oh the romantic comedy. A dozen or so of these films land at the multiplex each year and nearly all of them are the same. Boy and girl meet, fall in love, have a conflict, break up, the man apologizes or makes everything right, and the couple live happily ever after. Perhaps more so than any other genre of film, the romantic comedy is hands down the most predictable and overdone kind of film you can find.

And so in January 2011, here comes “No Strings Attached”, a casual sex comedy featuring Ashton Kutcher and actress-of-the-moment Natalie Portman as lifelong friends, Adam and Emma.

When we first meet Adam and Emma, they are at a high school camp commiserating on their teenage lives. When Adam’s awkward and crude advance gets rejected by Emma, we learn, by virtue of several flash forward scenes, that Adam and Emma have continuously crossed paths as years have gone by. Eventually the story settles in with Adam, late-20s or early 30s, working as a television producer and Emma in the midst of her medical residency. Adam has just lost another girlfriend to his famous actor father (a disappointing Kevin Kline) and sets out to inebriate his sadness away. After a night of partying, Adam wakes up naked, clad only in a towel, on a strange couch in an apartment, unsure and unclear of how he got there. After awkward conversations with three roommates, out walks Emma, who helps Adam pull himself together and sets him straight on the events of the night before. While Adam and Emma did not take things to that next level the previous night, they waste little time on this particular morning and both are left wondering what it all may mean.

Adam becomes smitten of course and he has no idea how to react to Emma’s “What’s the big deal?” attitude about things. Consumed with thinking of Emma at every turn, and at a bar with his best friends (Jake Johnson and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), fate brings Adam a text message from Emma asking if he can be home in 30 minutes. Adam bolts from the bar and soon the parameters are set by Emma – they will meet whenever the other person wants, for commitment-free sex, and whenever one of them develops deeper feelings for the other, they will move on. Emma works 80+ hours a week and has no time or interest in a “relationship” and Adam, apparently portraying the stereotypical sex-crazed guy, thinks this is a fantastic idea. At first. And then the feelings creep in and the film takes some obvious and telegraphed turns as Adam and Emma suppress but ultimately must deal with their growing feelings for one another.

I know you know where this is leading. Adam falls for Emma, she pushes him away, then she wants him and he is unsure, etc. etc. etc. However, somewhere along the way the movie moves past its gaunt and flimsy premise and becomes rather likable. The formulaic constraints fall away just enough and the entertaining and strong cast make this a better film than it has much right to be. Veteran director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters I and II, Dave) keeps things moving at a brisk pace and allows much of the supporting ensemble to have their moments.

Mindy Kaling (Kelly from television’s “The Office”) and Greta Gerwig (Greenberg) are well cast as Emma’s roommates and best friends and Lake Bell, as a co-worker with an unquenchable crush on Adam, is especially good here. Adam’s friends are rather poorly written and come off as rather forgettable and one-dimensional. In a bit of a surprise, Ashton Kutcher is more engaged and interesting here than in anything he’s done recently. Granted, Kutcher seems to only make romantic comedy variations anymore, but whether it is Portman’s skill and/or her effortlessness in succeeding in any role she seemingly takes on, perhaps Kutcher was able to raise the bar.

Natalie Portman shows once again that she has great comedic timing and is really down for anything. She handles the material well and makes a believable character out of Emma, undoubtedly polishing a stock and cardboard character given to her by Elizabeth Meriwether’s assembly line screenplay.

Ultimately, “No Strings Attached” is a film I enjoyed and found rather amusing, if not laugh out loud funny. Portman and Kutcher share nice chemistry and while the film runs about 15-20 minutes too long, the film is never boring, just familiar. This is a movie made for both genders to enjoy and by embracing its R-rated content, it will play well across male and female viewers.

If you see it and hate it, I get it. And based on his track record, I acknowledge that it is hard to encourage people to see an Ashton Kutcher movie in a theater. But there is just enough of a spark here that, almost in spite of its strained attempts at raunchy humor and completely predictable results, “No Strings Attached” is a passable watch. And for most romantic comedies, a passable watch is a welcome surprise.

Should I See It?

Fans of romantic comedies will swoon over Kutcher and Portman, their palpable chemistry, and there are entertaining moments for women and men alike.

The film is constantly amusing and for me, brought a couple of really funny moments. It is hard not to have at least a half of a smile on your face through much of this.

The film can be enjoyed by turning off your mind – and for someone wanting a simple and entertaining 2 hours at the cineplex, you could do far worse than this.

If you are weary of romantic comedies, I cannot imagine that you will have much interest in this, even if it tries to appeal to younger and male demographics.

The vulgar tone the film opts for at times may turn some viewers off.

Natalie Portman fans who have heralded her film choices so far may be left scratching their head by her choosing to make and star in this.

As it descends from vulgar comedy to romantic love story, some will be confused as to what they are exactly watching and/or what the message is supposed to be.